A viable pipe bomb discovered close to the perimeter fence of Strabane police station and a nearby playground yesterday was described as a "reckless act" by a member of the PSNI last night.
The device - which was described by the PSNI as capable of "causing serious injury or death" - was found after police received a phone call saying the device had been thrown at the police station a day earlier but had not exploded.
The pipe bomb was discovered at around 5pm during a subsequent search and British army technical officers were tasked to make it safe.
No evacuations took place but a number of local residents were asked to stay to the rear of their properties while officers carried out their work.
Area commander, chief inspector Andy Lemon said the discovery was down to a "cowardly element" who show no regard for local residents and the police officers who serve their communities in Strabane.
"A caller stated that the device had been thrown at the station last night but had not exploded. Police immediately carried out a search of the area and recovered the object close the perimeter fence and a local play park."
He said the discovery was particularly reckless given that it occurred during the school holidays when the park was increasingly busy with children. "It does not bear thinking of what could have happened had a child at the park discovered the device before anyone was aware of the potential danger."
Noting that this was the third time such an incident had occurred in the Portray Park and Church View and called on residents to hep the PSNI in driving this "small minority" from the streets of Northern Ireland.