Dissident republicans abandoned bombs in a hedge near a police sports club in Belfast, security sources said this evening.
Homes were evacuated along Newforge Lane in the south of the city for a second time as military experts dealt with a new alert.
Soldiers moved in again after a device was found close to where a crude pipe bomb was discovered hours earlier.
A security source close to the investigation confirmed dissident republican terrorists were the main suspects.
The bombs were located on a leafy avenue that leads to Newforge Country Club where the Police Service of Northern Ireland hosts sporting and social events.
But detectives were uncertain if those who stashed the devices planned an attack on the premises.
"They were just about 30 yards into Newforge Lane, stuck in a hedge," one said.
"It seems they were just dumped and a major concern was that the first device was just a come-on to lure us to something bigger. But that's not the case."
The operation began last night with an anonymous telephoned bomb warning.
A controlled explosion was carried out on the first device, described as viable, after surrounding houses were cleared.
Residents were taken to Newforge Country Club, but were all later allowed to return home.
Although a helicopter with a spotlight was used to search the area during darkness, it was only when daylight broke that the second discovery was made.