THE incoming RUC Chief Constable, Mr Ronnie Flanagan, said there may have been an IRA strategy meeting at the weekend, but not a "summit" involving an army convention.
As he prepared for his first day in charge of the force today, he warned: "There are dangers ahead in the immediate future. I think we are liable to face more attacks in Northern Ireland and on the mainland.
Before examining the latest intelligence reports on the Provisional IRA, Mr Flanagan said he believed a meeting of senior IRA men was probably held at the weekend.
He told the Press Association "I think there may have been a meeting of some sort. There is an internal debate going on into the exact nature and structure of the republican movement's future. But it would be wrong for me to speculate or outline exactly what we know or believe.
Mr Flanagan said he did not think there was any chance of another ceasefire at this stage. Instead there would be more attacks like Canary Wharf, Manchester and the army HQ in Lisburn, Co Antrim.
He said: "The campaign of violence being waged by the IRA at the moment is different in character compared to the campaign we faced for 25 years. The sad reality is that we face a risk of targets of both property and perhaps of individuals being selected because of their high profile".
But Mr Flanagan said he also believed there were Provisionals who want the violence to stop. "There are those in the republicans who realise that even though they can carry on perpetrating attacks for another 25 years. It probably does not actually progress them towards achievement of their objectives.
"It doesn't mean they are morally reformed. It doesn't mean they believe violence is morally wrong.