The PSNI have confirmed that the device left by two masked men in a bank in Newry, Co Down, this morning was a bomb which could have killed or caused serious injury.
A British army bomb disposal team made safe the device this afternoon.
The attack followed a similar bombing of a Santander branch in Derry earlier this year which caused extensive damage.
The PSNI Area Commander for Newry and Mourne Chief Inspector Davy Beck said: ‘This was a viable device which was capable of causing death, serious injury and substantial damage to the area.
‘I would place on record my gratitude to the army technical officer and his team for their actions, which clearly prevented the detonation of this device.
‘Newry city centre is returning to normal at this point. However, a thorough investigation into the attack has been initiated.
‘I would appeal to the community for information about the people who conducted this cowardly attack on the people of Newry and Mourne.’
Mr Beck asked anyone with information about the incident to contact police.
A number of streets in the centre of Newry were closed after the suspicious device was found.
A man carrying a bag walked into the bank building this morning and issued a warning that a device would explode in 45 minutes.
The area around Hill Street and Market Street were closed off and dozens of businesses were disrupted.
