Dissident republicans were today being blamed for a booby trap device found
under a car in a village in Northern Ireland.
Around 150 people from 50 homes were evacuated from the Meadow Park area of Sion Mills, Co Tyrone, this morning when a suspicious object was spotted underneath a car.
British army bomb disposal experts carried out a controlled explosion on the vehicle.
The bomb scare coincided with the fourth anniversary of the signing of the Belfast Agreement peace accord.
Police Service of Northern Ireland inspector Harry Johnston claimed the device was designed to kill.
"I dread to think what would have happened if this device had exploded in this built-up area," he said.
"Children are off school and there could have been serious loss of life. Dissident republicans are high on the suspect list of this attempt to take life on Good Friday."
Local sources in Sion Mills claimed the booby trap device contained Semtex.
They also pointed the finger at dissident republicans.
It is understood the target may have been a former member of the Royal Irish Regiment.
The attempted bomb attack was condemned by a nationalist SDLP Assembly member for the area, Eugene McMenamin.
"This is a sinister and very worrying development," the West Tyrone MLA said.
"I strongly condemn this incident. If it is indeed dissident republicans behind this, these are evil people who are intent on creating murder and mayhem in this society and who have no regard for human life.
"It is all the more sinister given that this is the fourth anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement."
PA