A viable mortar bomb left near a police station in Strabane had the capacity to kill.
The device was found by a resident on a wall close to houses at Church View at around 8:30am on Saturday morning.
A 33-year-old man has been arrested under terrorism legislation.
The object was examined by police and ATO and was found to be a viable mortar type device. The device was made safe and was removed for further examination.
Detective Inspector Andrew Hamlin said police believe that that this device was placed to attack officers at the nearby station, but it also had the capacity to kill or seriously injure anyone in the vicinity.
“This is not the first time a deadly device has been left in a public space recently and serves to remind us all how little the terrorists responsible care for the lives of local people,” he said.
Police are linking this incident to the hijacking of a delivery driver’s car in the Mount Sion area at around 9.40pm on Friday evening. A fake order was placed with a pizza outlet from a phone box on Bridge Street and when the driver arrived at the stated address, his orange Fiat Sedici was taken from him by three men. It was subsequently discovered on fire at Evish Road around 45 minutes later.
“I am keen to hear from anyone who saw the orange Fiat in the town or who noticed anything out of the ordinary in the Church View area on Friday night. Detectives can be contacted on 101 quoting reference number 371 07/09/19,” added Detective Inspector Andrew Hamlin.