AN IRA attack was thwarted on Saturday night when a man - who was chased for five miles dumped a mortar bomb in a farmyard close to the Border.
The RUC believe the IRA had planned an attack on a security base in Middletown, Co Armagh. The man was intercepted by the RUC near the Tyrone village of Caledon. He was driving a stolen LandRover towing a cattle trailer carrying the device.
An RUC patrol car had followed him for five miles but he managed to get away after abandoning the bomb in a farm yard, just 200 yards from Middletown. The RUC believes he may have escaped across a river.
A senior RUC officer explained that a clearance operation was mounted at first light yesterday and that the trailer was found to contain a Mark 15 mortar, fully primed and ready for use, according to the RUC press office.