Dissident republicans used a military grade explosive in an attack on a police car in Strabane in Co Tyrone last month, a court has been told.
A 28-year-old man, Charlie Love from Bridge Street in Strabane, appeared at Dungannon Magistrates Court via video link this morning charged with the attempted murders of two police officers in the vehicle.
The father-of-one, described as a vulnerable adult, is also charged with causing an explosion likely to endanger life or cause serious injury and possession of explosives with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury.
An improvised explosive device was fired at the PSNI patrol car in the Mount Carmel Heights area of Strabane shortly before 11pm on 17 November.
The court was told the two officers heard a loud bang, saw a bright flash and felt something hit the side of the vehicle.
They were not injured and there was minor damage to the car.
A PSNI detective inspector told the court that "military grade explosive" was used in the attack, claimed by the dissident republican group the New IRA.
He said the explosion caused a substantial crater at the point where it was detonated by command wire.
The officer said there was DNA evidence to link the defendant to the trigger of a drill that had been modified for use with a command wire to act as the firing mechanism for the device as the car passed.
He said there is also DNA evidence to link Charlie Love to the command wire and a metal post inside a gated area from where police believe the explosion was triggered.
Questioned by a defence barrister, the officer said that during police interviews Mr Love said in a prepared statement that he could not explain how his DNA could be on the trigger of the firing mechanism, but pointed out that he was a manual worker and used tools.
Mr Love, appearing by video link from Musgrave police station in Belfast, spoke only to confirm his identity and that he understood the charges against him.
An application for bail was refused and he was remanded in custody to appear in court again on 5 January.
