The attack on the garden of remembrance to the victims of the Omagh bombing has been condemned by police and politicians in the North and South.
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The garden was vandalised overnight. Trees were uprooted, plants pulled out and flower pots and garden furniture were overturned in the incident which was discovered at around 8 a.m.
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Brian Cowen, tonight condemned the vandalism as "depraved and wanton desecration".
"To those who continue to mourn loved ones lost in the bomb, and to those bravely struggling to cope with the deep physical and mental scares it left, this is a particularly cruel and callous blow.
"The people responsible must be caught and held fully to account for their despicable actions," he added.
Earlier the RUC Regional Commander for the area, Superintendent James Baxter described the attack as disgraceful. He said it was an attack, not just on the garden, but on the entire community of Omagh who have already suffered so much.
"How anyone could perpetrate such a deed is beyond belief," Superintendent Baxter said.
The garden is near the scene where the car bomb went off, devastating the town, in August 1998.
SDLP Assembly member Mr Joe Byrne said the incident was "appalling".
The West Tyrone MLA said: "I am very annoyed that anybody would want to interfere with or destroy the memorial garden.
"It is a very significant place for people to go and quietly reflect on the atrocity. I know the relatives will be very distressed by what has happened.
"It is totally deplorable that some people are so badly motivated that they are prepared to cause even further suffering for the people of Omagh."
Sinn Fein Assembly Member Mr Pat Doherty described the attack on the Garden of Remembrance as beyond human comprehension.
"It is clear that there are people out there who have no respect or regard for the dead, the injured or for those who have lost their loved ones," he said.
"This disgraceful type of behaviour only heightens the trauma of the families and those responsible must be labelled for what they are - mindless and sick."
The attack took place hours after a special computer archive on the bombing was launched in the town by former Beirut hostage Mr Terry Waite.
The CD-Rom, One Day in August, will be used in schools and libraries in the Omagh area as an archive on the bombing.
Additional reporting PA