Chief Constable Jon Boutcher has issued a blistering condemnation of the "reckless and stupid" bomb attack at Dunmurry police station on Saturday night, confirming that a formal attempted murder investigation is now underway.

The attack involved the hijacking of a delivery driver who was coerced into transporting an explosive device to the station. The device detonated while police officers were in the process of evacuating nearby homes, including a residence housing two young babies.

In a show of cross-party unity, the Chief Constable was joined by First Minister Michelle O'Neill, deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly, and Policing Board Chair Brendan Mullan.

Commenting on the bravery of the responding officers, Chief Constable Boutcher said: "Today we have also released footage showing our officers placing themselves in harms way evacuating homes as the bomb detonated. These are mindless idiots, risking lives of not only local residents that included two young babies, who were taken into the safe custody of a police station by our courageous officers who ran to this fear and into residents' houses to protect them. "I want to acknowledge, especially the courage and professionalism of those officers, who responded so quickly and so professionally, to this cowardly attack, and undoubtedly saved lives."

The investigation is being led by the PSNI's Terrorist Investigation Unit. This incident marks the second such attack in Northern Ireland in less than a month.

The Chief Constable continued: "This was a deliberate, reckless and stupid attack that endangered so many people's lives. The coercion of an innocent delivery driver and the placing of an explosive device in a residential area shows complete disregard and stupidity.

"This was not just an attack aimed at our incredible police officers and staff, this was an attack against everybody in society. There is no place for these mindless thugs, these idiots who think it's acceptable to carry out such stupid attacks. I can promise you, we will do all we can to identify them and bring them before the courts."

The PSNI is appealing to the public for any information regarding those responsible.

"I would appeal to anybody with any information about the people responsible to please contact us, before these people actually harm or kill somebody. Even if you think you might know who is responsible, please reach out to the PSNI," the Chief Constable added.