Dissident republicans blamed for booby trap device

Dissident republicans were today being blamed for a booby trap device found under a car in a village in Northern Ireland.

Around 150 people from 50 homes were evacuated from the Meadow Park area of Sion Mills, Co Tyrone, this morning when a suspicious object was spotted underneath a car. Army bomb disposal experts carried out a controlled explosion on the vehicle.

The bomb scare coincided with the fourth anniversary of the signing of Northern Ireland's Good Friday Agreement peace accord.

Police Service of Northern Ireland inspector Harry Johnston claimed the device was designed to kill. ``I dread to think what would have happened if this device had exploded in this built-up area,'' he said.

Local sources in Sion Mills claimed the booby trap device contained Semtex. They also pointed the finger at dissident republicans.

It is understood the target may have been a former member of the Royal Irish Regiment.The attempted bomb attack was condemned by a nationalist SDLP Assembly member for the area, Eugene McMenamin.