GARDAÍ IN Waterford are investigating an attack at a Travellers' halting site in the city which the intended victims have described as "cowardly".
A "crude home-made device" was thrown into a halting site at Bilberry in the city at about 10.30pm on Sunday.
Gardaí believe that the incident is related to an ongoing dispute between members of the Travelling community in the city.
An Army explosive ordnance device team was deployed from Collins Barracks in Cork to deal with the remainder of the device, while the area was "made safe" at 8.40am yesterday.
Gardaí cordoned off the area.
Defence Forces spokesman Capt Pat O'Connor yesterday said: "We received a request from the gardaí to investigate a suspect device at the Bilberry are of Waterford city on Sunday evening.
"Our EOD [explosive ordnance device] team ensured the device was safe and handed it over to the gardaí for investigation. It was clear that the device was home-made . . . it was a very crude device that had previously detonated."
No injuries were reported.
Michael Delaney (22), who lives with his family at Bilberry, yesterday described the attack as "cowardly".
He said: "They came in last night throwing bombs but luckily no one got hurt. A fella got into the site and threw the bombs at the caravans; they hit the ground and these U-nails exploded."
The dispute, which began during a bout of bare-knuckle boxing at the Six Cross Roads on July 12th, has so far resulted in more than 100 recorded violent incidents and more than 50 arrests.
Gardaí have investigated numerous shootings, car rammings and many counts of arson, criminal damage and public disorder incidents since July.
