PSNI officers investigating a security alert on a railway line in Co Down came under gun attack last night but managed to escape injury.
The railway line at Newry was closed on Friday following reports of a suspected bomb, which was being blamed on dissident republicans.
Shots were fired at the officers as they examined the scene at around 9.15pm.
The alert on the track between Killeen and Meigh led to the closure of the Belfast to Dublin rail link after the suspected device was reported.
The security scare caused travel chaos for rugby fans making their way to Dublin for Saturday's Ireland v Scotland RBS 6 Nations match at Croke Park.
PSNI District Commander Superintendent Alisdair Robinson condemned the gun attack.
'This attack was a cowardly attempt to kill police officers in the course of their duty as they investigate a suspicious object that may have the potential to kill or injure not only police but members of the local community,' he said.
'Police will continue to deliver a service to the community despite the threat from these criminal terrorists, but we must also be mindful of that threat.'
