Massive bomb find highlights dissident threat

The ongoing threat posed by dissident republicans is back on the public agenda following the defusing of a large bomb on a roadside in south Armagh yesterday.

The 600lb home-made device was discovered near Forkhill during a major security operation prompted by a tip-off to the police on Tuesday of last week.

Local homes were evacuated for several days while the security forces examined the area to find the bomb and ensure it was not a booby-trap.

Bomb disposal experts finally defused the device yesterday.

The bomb had a command wire leading to a firing point across the border in the Republic.

The PSNI says it believes the bombers intended to kill police officers, but had also put the lives of local residents at significant risk.

Dissident republicans have been increasingly active across the North in recent months and staged a recent show of force in Forkhill in which armed men patrolled the streets ordering residents not to cooperate with the PSNI.