A van left outside a police station in Co Tyrone last night contained a 300lb bomb, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), has confirmed.
About 350 residents in Aughnacloy were forced to spend the night in a local church hall last night.
Their homes were evacuated after the van was found abandoned outside the police station on Dungannon Road at about 10pm last night.
A controlled explosion was carried out on the bomb this morning.
At a press briefing this afternoon, PSNI Superintendent Brian Kee accused those responsible for the bomb of having a “blatant disregard” for life.
“We can confirm that this was a viable device containing an estimated 300lbs of explosives. I have no doubt that if this device had detonated it would have caused complete devastation and lives would certainly have been lost," he said.
“The intention of the people responsible for planting this bomb in the middle of the village of Aughnacloy is to murder police officers with no regard for the people who live in this community.
"They completely ignored the fact that there could easily have been passers by or nearby residents caught up and killed or seriously injured in an explosion," he said. "This is an outrage and should be condemned in the strongest possible terms by every right thinking person."
Supt Kee said police were made aware of the bomb at10.10pm and told that it would detonate within the hour. He said his officers were still carrying out the evacuation when the deadline elapsed.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Michéal Martin today condemned the attempted bombing.
"Last night’s attempted bomb attack has no justification or excuse, no mandate and no legitimacy. The gangs which carry out such violence and criminality should cease their activity and disband immediately," he said.
"The clearly expressed will of the people of this island, north and south, is that there should be peace, stability and reconciliation. Those elected by the people of Ireland to represent them will not allow a small unrepresentative minority to distract them from the course set by the people. ”
The Policing Board today also condemned the attempted bombing with its acting chair Brian Rea saying that untold destruction would have occurred if the device would have detonated.
"Whilst people will be relieved that the area has been made safe, this attack has caused huge disruption to the people of Augnacloy who have been moved from their homes and prevented from going about their everyday business," he said.
"The widespread condemnation of this incident from local people and political representatives show the people responsible for this have no support," Mr Rea added.
Local residents were accommodated in the local Church of Ireland church hall overnight and Aughnacloy was closed to traffic. The main street is now partially open.
The PSNI said it would like to speak to anyone who noticed a white Ford Transit van registration number R124 FHJ in the area yesterday.
Supt Kee said the PSNI was liaising with the gardaí to see whether a blue Toyota Avensis, which was found burnt out in Co Monaghan last night, is connected with the bomb.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheal Martin said he "deplored" the attempted bomb attack.
“This was a reckless and cowardly act whose only impact was to put at grave risk the safety of the people of Aughnacloy,” he said.
Mr Martin said the attack had no justification or excuse, no mandate and no legitimacy.
“The gangs which carry out such violence and criminality should cease their activity and disband immediately,” he added.
“The clearly expressed will of the people of this island, north and south, is that there should be peace, stability and reconciliation.
“Those elected by the people of Ireland to represent them will not allow a small unrepresentative minority to distract them from the course set by the people”, Mr Martin concluded.