The Army bomb disposal team has been called out to examine a suspicious device found in Crumlin in Dublin.
The alarm was raised at around 9pm after the device was found beneath a car at the junction of Leighlin and Kildare Roads.
A large number of houses have been evacuated and the area has been sealed off.
Last night a pipe bomb exploded in the front garden of a house in the same area of Dublin.
No-one was injured in the incident, which occurred about 11pm. A nearby parked car was damaged.
It is believed the device was thrown from a passing car and exploded in the front garden under the window.
An army bomb disposal team examined what remained of the device before giving the all-clear about half past midnight.
Houses on Monasterboice Road were evacuated while the security services were at the scene.
Gardaí say the house where the bomb exploded was occupied at the time.
It is a family home and although they could not say how many people were inside, they confirmed there were no children present.
Earlier today the Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan acknowledged that the increasing use of explosive devices in gang related crime is a serious problem.
Brian Lenihan was speaking at a graduation ceremony of 261 gardaí in Templemore, Co Tipperary.
Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy says the bombs are crude devices and are relatively easy to make.
He says they are now being used by criminals involved in the drugs trade.
