Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness has claimed Gerry Adams' arrest is due to a "dark side" within policing conspiring with enemies of the peace process.
He added that the detention was a "deliberate attempt to influence the outcome of elections" in three weeks.
Mr Adams is being questioned about the 1972 murder of Jean McConville but has denied involvement in her death.
Prime Minister David Cameron said there had been "absolutely no political interference in this issue".
Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson said it would be "political policing" if Mr Adams was not questioned.'Dark side'
The Sinn Féin president remains in custody after presenting himself at Antrim police station on Wednesday evening.
Mr McGuinness, Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister, told a press conference at Stormont that the arrest of his party leader and "friend" was politically motivated.
He claimed Sinn Féin had been told by "senior" and "reforming" figures within the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) that "there was still a dark side within policing here in the north of Ireland".
"I think we have seen that dark side flex its muscles in the course of the last couple of days," he added.
"We know who they are. The reformers know who they are," Mr McGuinness told reporters.
'In consort'
He said some former republicans who were "maliciously and vehemently hostile to the peace process" had been targeting Mr Adams and the Sinn Féin peace strategy for a considerable period of time.
"It is quite disappointing to see the efforts of those people now in consort with the dark side within policing," Mr McGuinness said.
He added that the detention was a "deliberate attempt to influence the outcome of elections" in three weeks.
Mr Adams is being questioned about the 1972 murder of Jean McConville but has denied involvement in her death.
Prime Minister David Cameron said there had been "absolutely no political interference in this issue".
Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson said it would be "political policing" if Mr Adams was not questioned.'Dark side'
The Sinn Féin president remains in custody after presenting himself at Antrim police station on Wednesday evening.
Mr McGuinness, Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister, told a press conference at Stormont that the arrest of his party leader and "friend" was politically motivated.
He claimed Sinn Féin had been told by "senior" and "reforming" figures within the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) that "there was still a dark side within policing here in the north of Ireland".
"I think we have seen that dark side flex its muscles in the course of the last couple of days," he added.
"We know who they are. The reformers know who they are," Mr McGuinness told reporters.
'In consort'
He said some former republicans who were "maliciously and vehemently hostile to the peace process" had been targeting Mr Adams and the Sinn Féin peace strategy for a considerable period of time.
"It is quite disappointing to see the efforts of those people now in consort with the dark side within policing," Mr McGuinness said.
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However, Mr Robinson said the detention was proof that no-one in Northern Ireland was above the law.
"Is anybody going to say to me that if the police are aware of claims and evidence in relation to such a barbaric killing that it would be political policing for them to question those who have been suggested to have been involved?
"I would suggest to you that it would be political policing if the PSNI had not questioned those that were deemed to have been involved in any way," the DUP leader said.
"I cannot say whether Mr Adams will be charged or released, whether he will be held for a further period, whether even if charged he might be convicted .
"But what I can say is that it strengthens our political process in Northern Ireland for people to know that no-one is above the law - everyone is equal under the law and everyone is equally subject to the law."
"Is anybody going to say to me that if the police are aware of claims and evidence in relation to such a barbaric killing that it would be political policing for them to question those who have been suggested to have been involved?
"I would suggest to you that it would be political policing if the PSNI had not questioned those that were deemed to have been involved in any way," the DUP leader said.
"I cannot say whether Mr Adams will be charged or released, whether he will be held for a further period, whether even if charged he might be convicted .
"But what I can say is that it strengthens our political process in Northern Ireland for people to know that no-one is above the law - everyone is equal under the law and everyone is equally subject to the law."
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