A man in his 20s was being questioned by gardaí yesterday after a pipe bomb was thrown from a passing car in west Dublin.
The incident, described by local Opposition TDs as a "wake- up call" for the new Minister for Justice, Brian Lenihan TD, occurred at about 8.40am on Ladyswell Road, Mulhuddart.
It is understood that the target of the attack was another man standing on the street.
No one was hurt in the incident, but the Army bomb disposal unit was called in to make the unexploded device safe.
A number of apartments in the area were also evacuated after the area was sealed off by gardaí. Traffic was diverted from the scene yesterday morning.
A spokesman for the Defence Forces said the improvised device, comprised of lead piping and homemade explosive material, was made safe and removed to an Army range.
This would allow gardaí to examine it for forensic evidence before it is disposed of, he said.
The entire operation took almost two hours. It is believed the incident may relate to a personal dispute between two families in the area.
Newly-elected local TD Leo Varadkar (FG) yesterday called on the Government to adopt a "holistic" approach to the Ladyswell area along the lines of that previously adopted in the South Hill and Moyross areas of Limerick.
"The vast majority of residents [ in Ladyswell and Mulhuddart] are hard-working law abiding people," he said. "Local people are becoming increasingly intolerant of criminal behaviour, intimidation and violence in their community."
Joan Burton TD (Lab) said the incident was a "very disturbing development".
"This incident should act as a wake-up call to the new Justice Minister Brian Lenihan, taking place as it did in his own back yard," she said.