Police in Northern Ireland say a device found in Armagh was a booby-trap intended to target officers.

The "viable and deadly device" was found in Craigavon on Friday night.

Officers were called to Tullygally Road at around midnight following reports of a loud bang.

Shortly after, a Belfast-based newspaper reported they'd been informed a mortar had been fired at police in the area.

However, police now say they believe the loud bang and phone call were meant to lure police officers and first responders to the area.

Detective Superintendent Richard Campbell explained: “Despite the initial report to the Tullygally Road our enquiries to date would lead us to believe a mortar was not fired and in fact the entire incident was staged in order to bring police into an area where another deadly and unstable device awaited.

"Although the explosive was designed and set up to look like a fired mortar, it was in fact a booby-trap device. In other words it was designed to explode if moved or touched."

He added that the device would have been "catastrophic" for anyone nearby if it had detonated.

He said: "This attack was indiscriminate. Whilst there is no doubt in my mind that first responders were the target, the reality is that anyone could have been caught up in the carnage.

"We are extremely fortunate that the swift actions of those officers who were first on scene meant that there was not serious injury or death."

Police have released photos of the device and renewed their call for anyone with information about the device to contact them.

Image of the device in Craigavon. Picture: PSNI