A driver travelled 14 miles to Crumlin with a bomb attached to the front of their car, according to police.
The incident follows a security alert on the Lurgan Road near its junction with Maple Park. A number of families were forced to evacuate their homes.
Police received a report at just after 8pm in relation to a device having been discovered wedged into the front grill of a vehicle parked at Lurgan Road.
Detectives are appealing for information after the discovery of the suspicious device last night (Thursday, 16 January).
Detective Inspector Stephen Harvey said officers and ATO attended the scene.
“The device was taken away for further examination and I can confirm it contained component parts which, had the device been detonated, would have made it viable,” he said.
He said police are following a number of lines of enquiry.
“One is that this device may have been placed on the vehicle on the Falls Road, in the area of the Kennedy Centre, in west Belfast sometime earlier in the day and the vehicle was then driven to the Lurgan Road area where the device was subsequently discovered.
“This was a reckless act by the person or persons responsible for placing this device on the vehicle, which travelled close to 14 miles before it was spotted,” he added.
Detective Inspector Stephen Harvey said the incident caused disruption to a number of families who had to leave their homes while police worked to make the area safe. He said he wanted to thank those affected for their patience and co-operation.
“I am appealing to anyone who may have been in the Falls Road area between 9am and 6pm on Thursday 16 January and saw anything out of the ordinary, or anyone acting suspiciously to call us on the non-emergency number 101, quoting reference 1665 of 16/12/20,” he added.
Alternatively, information can also be given anonymously through the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.