Eight Real IRA suspects were being held by police in Northern Ireland tonight after the discovery of a suspected bomb and bomb parts.
An area of Strabane, Co Tyrone was sealed off for the night after a day-long search at Magirr Park unearthed a suspect device and a stockpile of what police believe to be component parts for pipe bombs.
The eight men were arrested in planned raids - seven in Strabane and one in Derry.
It is understood the suspected bomb making equipment is not old but ready for use and in various stages of assembly.
The security operation is part of one dating back to July 12th when there was a blast bomb attack on the Strabane police station. The device missed the station and hit a house.
In April this year a pipe bomb was left at the Strabane home of a member of the local District Policing Partnership - also the work of dissident republicans.