A bomb which exploded near the border in Northern Ireland was planted by dissident republicans, police said today.
No damage or injuries were caused by the blast. A second device was discovered during the security alert outside Newry, Co Down.
Chief Inspector Christine McCullough said: "This was a viable device which was capable of causing death or serious injury.
"This was the action of someone who has nothing to offer the people of Newry and Mourne."
Army technical experts carried out a controlled explosion on the second device.
The police said it had caused major disruption within the community, with the main Belfast to Dublin railway line closed for a time and the traffic on the arterial road route south delayed.
The alert began on Sunday after a claim that an explosive device had been left in the Upper Fathom Road area, near the Cloghogue roundabout.
Renegade republicans opposed to the peace process and power-sharing have been blamed for the attack.
Ms McCullough added: "Although the device was made safe, it was nevertheless an attack on all of the positive steps forward local communities and the police have taken in recent years.
"The people of Newry and Mourne will see it for what it was — a dangerous but ultimately pointless, cowardly and empty gesture."