Several families had to evacuate their homes in the North today after the discovery of what police fear could be another huge terrorist bomb near the border in Co Fermanagh.
The discovery came ahead of a meeting between Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson and Prime Minister Gordon Brown in London to discuss funding to enable the transfer of policing and justice powers from Westminster to Stormont.
Security forces sealed off a stretch of road after warnings that a device had been left by republican dissident near the village of Rosslea on the Lisnaskea Road.
Last week a 275 kg (600lb) bomb was defused in south Armagh amid claims that the threat posed by republicans opposed to the peace process was as high as at any time since the Omagh bomb in August 1998.
Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, who is accompanying Mr Robinson at today’s talks in London, has already warned that unless the new justice department is set up before the end of the year, the transfer of powers could be delayed until after the next general election.
Today’s meeting is a new attempt to reach agreement on the level of funding, which could run to hundreds of millions of pounds. Mr Robinson said any agreement would have to have the approval of Conservative leader David Cameron.
“There is a possibility of an alternative government, and it would be irresponsible of us to simply tie up a deal with the present occupant of Downing Street, to find that in a year’s time everything was to change," he said.
Police said the security operation came after officers were made aware of various claims made in recent weeks and months about explosive devices left or abandoned in the area. They had been made in telephone calls to local businesses and media organisations.
A PSNI statement said: “While every effort has been made to resolve these claims, which come from a small number of criminals who appear intent on disrupting the lives of businesses and residents of the area, it has become necessary to conduct a search.
“We are committed to keeping disruption to an absolute minimum. The culpability for any that does take place lies squarely with those who made the claims. They must not be allowed to ruin the lives of local residents and businesses.
“The claims made in Fermanagh are in addition to a number of incidents in the county over the past 18 months in which explosive devices targeting members of the security forces have been planted.
“The discovery and disposal of a massive bomb in South Armagh in recent days underlines our need for a careful and controlled response to these claims.”
PA