Police in Northern Ireland today confirmed a bomb was uncovered in the Border region of south Armagh after a failed plot to kill PSNI officers.
Security forces have been examining a suspicious device in Keady since Tuesday morning, following an attempt to lure police into an ambush.
Six houses were evacuated in the Castleblaney Road area after a beer keg with wires attached to it was found by a member of the public.
Dissident republicans opposed to the peace process are being blamed for the murder bid, which comes after a mortar device was abandoned near the police station in Keady in February.
But area commander Chief Inspector Ken Mawhinney said it was now believed the device had been hidden in a laneway since Saturday evening and could have claimed the lives of people passing the scene.
He added: ?Let me be clear from the outset and absolutely condemn this incident. This device was designed for one thing and one thing only - to kill or cause serious injury to police officers.
?The people responsible for planting this device and leaving it on this public road exposed to members of the local community for almost 48 hours showed absolutely no regard for human life.
?They do not care who they hurt and simply want to drag people back to the dark days of the past.?
PA