NAME: Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF)
DATE STARTED/FIRST ACTIVE: 1996.
GOALS: Prevent a political settlement with Irish nationalists in Northern Ireland by attacking Catholic politicians, civilians, and Protestant politicians who endorse the Northern Ireland peace process.
MAIN ANTI-U.S. ACTIVITIES TO DATE: None.
STRENGTH: Approximately 150.
OPERATIONAL LOCATIONS: Ireland, Northern Ireland.
AFFILIATIONS: None.
COMMENTS: Terrorist group formed as a faction of the mainstream loyalist Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), the LVF did not emerge publicly until February 1997. Composed largely of UVF hardliners. Has been observing a cease-fire since May 1998. The LVF decommissioned a small but significant amount of weapons in December 1998, but it has not repeated this gesture, and in fact threatened in 2000 to resume killing Catholics. In 2000, the LVF also engaged in a brief but violent feud with other loyalists in which several individuals were killed. NOT a Designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) but listed as "active" during 2000.
DATE STARTED/FIRST ACTIVE: 1996.
GOALS: Prevent a political settlement with Irish nationalists in Northern Ireland by attacking Catholic politicians, civilians, and Protestant politicians who endorse the Northern Ireland peace process.
MAIN ANTI-U.S. ACTIVITIES TO DATE: None.
STRENGTH: Approximately 150.
OPERATIONAL LOCATIONS: Ireland, Northern Ireland.
AFFILIATIONS: None.
COMMENTS: Terrorist group formed as a faction of the mainstream loyalist Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), the LVF did not emerge publicly until February 1997. Composed largely of UVF hardliners. Has been observing a cease-fire since May 1998. The LVF decommissioned a small but significant amount of weapons in December 1998, but it has not repeated this gesture, and in fact threatened in 2000 to resume killing Catholics. In 2000, the LVF also engaged in a brief but violent feud with other loyalists in which several individuals were killed. NOT a Designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) but listed as "active" during 2000.