BREAKING NEWS: A suspicious object found in a rural area near Strabane last night was a viable explosive device. 
It was discovered by a man walking at Ballyheather Road at about 8pm
Following an operation by ATO and a search of the area, the alert has now ended and roads have reopened.
Chief Inspector Alan Hutton, the local policing commander for Strabane, said no motive had yet been established.
“This device could have caused death or serious injury to anyone close by if it had exploded.
“We believe that the device had been in the area for some time and while we have not established a motive or identified the intended target, clearly there can be no justification for attempts to cause death or injury.
“We will be following up all lines of enquiries. At this stage we are keeping an open mind as to who left the device.
“We would ask anyone who has information about this device to contact the detectives in Strabane on the on-emergency umber 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
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