A VEHICLE found abandoned in the North was carrying a viable bomb that was destined for an attack on a police station, the PSNI said yesterday (Sat). The device, which was made safe, was found in a rural part of Co Fermanagh, not far from the luxury Lough Erne golf resort where this June's G8 conference of world leaders is being held.
The alert at Derrylin Road - the main arterial route between Enniskillen and Dublin - was raised early Friday morning and caused local homes to be evacuated. Dissident republicans are suspected of planting the bomb.
"The people responsible for this have no regard for the lives of anyone in our community," PSNI district commander Pauline Shields said.
"Although investigations are at an early stage it is our assessment at present that this vehicle was destined for Lisnaskea PSNI station."
Northern Secretary Theresa Villiers said: "The abandoned device dealt with by PSNI sadly reminds us that there are still a small minority who are determined to damage communities and cause death and disruption.They are totally out of touch with what the vast majority of people in Northern Ireland want."
US president Barack Obama, German chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian president Vladimir Putin are expected to attend the G8 meeting. A massive security operation will be mounted and thousands of police officers from UK forces will be drafted in to help bolster PSNI numbers.
Dissident republicans have launched a series of bomb attacks against members of the security forces in recent months. A week ago, the Police Service of Northern Ireland discovered a mortar-type device aimed towards New Barnsley police station in north Belfast.
Also last week, three officers escaped injury when an explosive device detonated within metres of them as they patrolled the outskirts of Belfast. Earlier this month, two men were arrested after police intercepted a van carrying four mortar bombs which were primed and ready to fire in Derry.