Police have said that dissident republicans were targeting one of their officers in an attempted bomb attack in Lisburn earlier this week.
A suspect device was found under a 50-year-old woman's car in the Ballyskeagh area of the city on Tuesday morning.
A controlled explosion was carried out on the device and the remains of what was described by police as a “viable device” was taken away for examination.
Detective Chief Inspector Jeff Smyth said it was a case of mistaken identity and that the incident could easily have resulted in a member of the public losing their life.
“As a member of the police service, I want to reassure the public that we're doing everything we can to protect them,” he said.
“And in instances like this, we will endeavour to a great extent to bring those responsible to justice.”
Police want to speak to the owner of a white Vauxhall Corsa car which was parked at Lambeg Parish Church from Monday evening until Tuesday morning.
They say a teenager wearing a baseball cap was in the vehicle.
They also want to speak to a man wearing a high visibility jacket who was also in the Ballyskeagh area.
Dissident republicans have been blamed for a number of attacks on PSNI officers over the past year.
In the most recent incidents last month officers were targeted in an apparent sniper attack following disturbances in Craigavon.
And a police patrol in Lisnaskea had a narrow escape when a rocket propelled grenade failed to explode after it was launched at them.
Belfast Telegraph