Five people have been arrested by police in Northern Ireland following the uncovering of an intelligence gathering operation linked to dissident republicans, it was revealed today.
Chief Constable Hugh Orde gave details of the arrests following a meeting in Belfast of the Policing Board.
It is understood the Real IRA was using medical records to target members of the recently established district policing partnerships, politicians and others including police officers.
Mr Orde said it looked as if the material had come from the records of the Royal Victoria Hospital on the Falls Road in west Belfast.
He said police has started issuing warnings to those they believed to be at risk.
The Chief Constable said: "This is an ongoing investigation, in the last 24 hours five people have been arrested in a security related operation.
"It is a substantial operation and it has been very professionally executed and carried out."
Mr Orde added: " We are looking at material that has been recovered to make sure that if people are being targeted, they are being properly warned so we can look after them and their safety."
PA