A SENIOR PSNI commander says a seized assault rifle was to have been used in an attempt to murder PSNI officers.
Police investigating ‘violent dissident republican activity’ carried out searches in Melvin Road and Ballycolman Estate on Tuesday evening.
The intelligence-led searches came after a lethal mortar bomb device was found in a graveyard at the weekend.
Derry and Strabane police chief Supt Mark McEwan (pictured right) said: “This rifle was in control of people who were intent in killing police officers.
“The gun has now been taken out of circulation which is a good thing.
“This could have caused fatalities or serious harm to members of the community.
“There are a number of lines inquiry at the moment about what type of attack this could have been.
“The threat to police officers across the service is severe.
“We believe that anyone involved in terrorist activity will always be in possession of articles to carry out attacks.”
Local politicians have condemned those behind the leaving the mortar device in the cemetery and keeping a firearm in a residential area.
SDLP councillor Patsy Kelly said: “Those committed to violence have nothing to offer the people of Strabane.”
Sinn Fein councillor Brian McMahon added: “Violent dissident republicans need to listen to the will of the people who don’t support their campaign and just want to get on with their lives.”
