POLICE have confirmed the four suspect devices found at Derry City Cemetery on Tuesday were "viable pipe bombs".
The devices, which police have linked to the New IRA, were discovered during a security operation at the cemetery at Lone Moor Road, which began when a suspicious object was reported by a member of the public shortly after 6.30am on Tuesday.
The three other devices were discovered in an operation that saw the cemetery closed to the public, with visitors turned away as the security alert continued into the afternoon.
Police at the scene came under attack from youths throwing missiles, with two PSNI vehicles damaged.
The alert followed attacks on police during an unnotified dissident republican parade in Derry's Creggan area on Easter Monday.
Following the parade, participants who had been wearing paramilitary style clothing removed the garb and burned it in the cemetery close to where the devices were discovered the following day.
Speaking on Wednesday following confirmation that the pipe bombs were viable, chief superintendent Nigel Goddard, the PSNI's area commander for Derry City and Strabane, said: "These actions have seen the exploitation of young people in the illegal parade, with a complete disregard for public safety.
"We believe these would have been used to attack police, and cause injury to our officers.
"Our colleagues from Terrorism Investigation Unit are continuing with their enquiries into this. At this time, the main line of enquiry is these pipe bombs are attributable to the New IRA."
He added: "We urge anyone with information that may assist the investigation to call police or contact Crimestoppers, which can be done anonymously."
SDLP leader and Foyle MP Colum Eastwood said the placing of devices in the cemetery was "disgusting", stating in a tweet: "These actions have put Derry people in danger, and those behind it must stop for good."
He added: "Those who carried out this act do not care about Ireland or our people, only their narrow, twisted agenda. The only way we can work towards a new Ireland is through respect, tolerance and democracy."
Meanwhile, Derry-based Catholic priest Fr Michael Canny told the BBC NI that the devices being placed in the cemetery was "evil", adding: "This is something planned for some time, these people obviously had planned to lure police in."
