Senior loyalist Winston “Winkey” Irvine is due to stand trial on Saturday on charges of firearms crimes.
The 46-year-old was arrested earlier this week as part of a wider investigation into a fraudulent bomb alert in March.
Irvine was detained on Shankil Road in Belfast on Wednesday morning. Two suspected firearms were found.
His arrest is believed to be in connection with a report of a fraudulent bomb on March 25, which led Irish Foreign Minister Simon Cowney to flee a peace event.
During the incident, gunmen stole a van from a worker on Sydney Street in Shankil and told him he would be shot or his family injured if he did not follow instructions.
An object was later placed in the man’s van, which was later identified as a fraudulent bomb, and the victim was ordered to take it to the Houben Center on Crumlin Road.
Mr. Cowney attended the peace event, which was organized by the John and Pat Hume Foundation.
A PSNI spokesman said: “Detectives from the Terrorism Investigation Department have charged a 46-year-old man with a number of crimes.
“He is accused of possessing firearms and ammunition in suspicious circumstances, possession of prohibited firearms, possession of a pistol without a certificate and possession of ammunition without a certificate.
“He is due to appear before Laganside Magistrates’ Court today, Saturday, June 11.
“As usual, all fees will be reviewed by PPS.”
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