Police have arrested three people in connection with the bombing of a police car in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, which nearly killed two law enforcement officers, DPA reported.

Three men - two aged 36 and one aged 28 - were arrested under the Counter-Terrorism Act following searches at three addresses in Strabane last night.

The attack on the patrol car of the two police officers was carried out on Thursday when an explosive device went off next to the vehicle.

One of the main theories that investigators are looking into is whether the New IRA, a splinter group from the Irish Republican Army (IRA), was involved in what happened.

Northern Ireland's Deputy Chief Constable Bobby Singleton said judging by the location in Strabane where the attack took place, as well as handwriting that was similar to previous attacks, the current attack could be the work of IRA separatists.

A police car in Northern Ireland has been targeted by a bomb attack

None of the police were injured in the attack, but it caused serious concern in the surrounding area, affecting the daily lives of more than 1,100 people living in the area, including the children who were not at school yesterday.

Upon re-examination of the explosion site, police found an object resembling an antenna that may have been used to detonate the improvised explosive device.

The leader of the Democratic Unionist Party of Northern Ireland, Sir Geoffrey Donaldson, said this "inhumane and apparently premeditated attack must be strongly condemned".

He denounced any attempt on the lives of police officers and stressed that "there is always an alternative to violence."

"Northern Ireland will not be held hostage by fringe elements who only want bloodshed and are dragging our society backwards," Donaldson said.

Irish Prime Minister Michal Martin said "any attempt to harm members of the security forces or the Northern Ireland Police is extremely shocking and must be condemned". 

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