A gun found in Strabane may have been a decoy to lure police into a bomb attack.
North west PSNI chief, Mark McEwan said his officers recovered the assault rifle during a search in the Melvin Road and Ballycolman Estate overnight on Tuesday.
Superintendent McEwan said the rifle recovered by police had been in the control of people who were intent on killing PSNI officers.
He said: "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."
The discovery of the rifle followed a major police security operation at the nearby Strabane cemetery over the weekend during which a viable mortar bomb was found and disarmed. A number of homes were evacuated during the two-day search.
While the exact location of the rifle discovered by police has not been given, it is understood one line of inquiry being examined is that the weapon was deliberately left in the area to lure police into the deadly mortar bomb attack.
Political leaders condemned the latest incident.
Sinn Fein councillor, Brian McMahon said dissident republicans needed to listen to the will of the people. He said local people did not support the campaign of violence and wanted to get on with their lives.
SDLP councillor, Patsy Kelly said those behind the incident had nothing to offer the people of Strabane.
The incident was also condemned by Ulster Unionist Policing Board member, Ross Hussey.
Mr Hussey said: "These dissident republicans are acting like a cancer in our society, attempting to bring death, murder and mayhem onto our street. Strabane seems to have been their target and it is clear they haven’t gone away."
