Those who left explosives in a busy street in Northern Ireland have the same recklessness as the Omagh bombers, Chief Constable Matt Baggott said today.
Two viable devices were found in Belfast’s Antrim Road after dissident republicans attempted to lure in officers, police added.
The main road will remain closed while police and British army teams search the area.
Mr Baggott said: “The people that planted these devices have the same recklessness and the same mindset as those that brought about the Omagh tragedy.
“There were hundreds of people who could have been very badly hurt and killed by this device in a busy residential area.”
The Omagh bomb was planted by the Real IRA in August 1998 and killed 31 people in the Co Tyrone market town. It was the most bloody single incident of the 30-year conflict.
The latest attack was claimed by dissident republican group Oglaigh na hÉireann.
The first device was placed beside an Xtravision video store, close to a police station.
The army discovered the second this afternoon beside a Scout hall. One device was quite a bit larger than the other.
Chief Superintendent Mark Hamilton said it showed the recklessness and irresponsibility of those who planted it.
Mr Baggott said: “They have just the mindset to kill and maim with no regard whatsoever for the future, no regard whatsoever for the people that live and work here.
“Sadly they seem to have no hesitation to do what they will do because they live in a world of hatred.”
Mr Baggott said there would be no lack of resources for the investigation but disclosed that he has been in talks in London about his future budget and the issue was raised at the highest level.
He rejected republican claims that he was leading an “army of occupation”.
“We have a police service that has never been more accessible.
“This is designed to put policing back into the past when policing had to be security-driven,” he added.
“They have no desire to see Northern Ireland have a peaceful and prosperous future.”
He said devices hidden in culverts, mortars and hand grenades were among the weapons employed by dissidents, options which “goes back into the past”.
“Nobody wants to see another Omagh... the only way we are going to stop these people is to bring them to justice.”
On Sunday night a police patrol was called to the Antrim Road area and police believe the intention was to kill them in the blast.
Officers and the army have been searching the Antrim Road area since Monday, leaving scores of residents in the area evacuated.
Security barriers will stay up into tomorrow and police said they were trying to minimise inconvenience.
The Chief Constable added: “The idea that somehow the police are a legitimate target because they are an army of occupation is as far from the east as the west and it is time that we nailed that mythology.”
PA