A bomb was aimed at a police patrol in Belfast on Tuesday night, but missed its target and exploded in mid-air.
Detectives believe the device was either thrown or fired at officers in a Land Rover at Victoria Parade in New Lodge in the north of the city at about 10.30pm. No one was injured.
While the bomb did not hit the police vehicle, another motor had its front windscreen smashed and dashboard damaged in the incident.
Belfast City District Commander, Chief Superintendent Nigel Grimshaw, said: “We believe the damage was caused by the device thrown. The front windscreen of the vehicle was smashed and there was further damage caused to the dashboard,” he said.
“If someone had been inside this vehicle, they most likely would have sustained serious injuries or could have been killed.”
Families living in Victoria Parade were moved from their homes as Army technical officers investigated and subsequently spotted the damaged vehicle. The security operation was expected to continue for several hours.
Mr Grimshaw said: “We know that these types of incidents are carried out by a small but mindless number of people within our communities.
“They have shown a callous disregard for the safety of the local community and the police officers who serve it. We are very fortunate this morning that no one was killed or seriously injured as this incident occurred in a residential area, putting the lives of those living there at serious risk.”
A local community centre was used for people forced out of their homes.
Detectives appealed for anyone with information to contact them at Musgrave station.
PA