POLICE have said a pipe bomb style device left outside a house in the Stanfield Place area of south Belfast was viable.
Detectives are appealing for witnesses after the explosive device was discovered outside a property in the Markets area, shortly before 11pm on Thursday.
Army Technical Officers attended the scene and examined the object, before taking it away for further examination.
Several properties were evacuated during the police operation.
Detectives are appealing to anyone who witnessed the incident or anyone with any information that can assist with the investigation to contact them at Musgrave police station.
Meanwhile, a number of homes were evacuated in Derry after a suspicious device was left on the windowsill of a house in the Farmhill area of Foyle Springs yesterday morning.
There was widespread traffic disruption after police cordoned off the area. Following an examination by Army Technical Officers, the device was declared a hoax and families were allowed to return to their homes shortly before 3pm.
SDLP politician Mark H Durkan condemned those behind the hoax bomb attack.
"This is causing absolute havoc for local people, many of them elderly, forced from their homes in the bitter cold," he said.
Sinn Féin councillor Elisha McCallion said no-one in Derry wanted to see a repeat of such incidents.
"This is the last thing the local community needs, particularly on such a cold day. Those behind this security alert have nothing to offer the local community," Ms McCallion said.
