Four blast bombs were discovered in south Belfast last night, police said today.
The devices, described as viable by the PSNI, were found near a BMX track in Bentham Drive off the Donegall Road
A controlled explosion was carried out and the remains of the devices have been removed for technical
PSNI chief inspector Trevor O'Neill, area commander for south Belfast, said it was "totally reckless" to leave the devices beside the track.
"This is a busy area and just a short distance away from a nursery school and other community and youth facilities. It is fortunate that someone wasn't killed or seriously injured."
Police believe the devices were linked to loyalist paramilitaries, he said.
Sinn Féin MLA for South Belfast Alex Maskey said the PSNI needed to clearly state who is behind the bombs, saying the find was a matter opf "serious concern".
"This is not the first find of pipe bombs in this area or indeed loyalist areas in general over the past weeks. Only last week several pipe bombs and ammunition were found in a house in Newtownabbey," he said.
"The PSNI need to inform the public very clearly, who exactly are behind the manufacturing and use of these devices and is there a pattern behind any attacks or bomb finds."