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Police investigating dissident Republicans in Northern Ireland discovered a rocket launcher and a warhead during a raid on a house in west Belfast.
Authorities said the weapons were "clearly intended to kill".
The find last night comes against the background of heightened tensions in the province where authorities have been on high alert for fresh attacks for some time.
Dissidents have already been linked to a series of attempts to kill members of the security forces, including soldiers, police and a prison officer.
A spokesman for the Police Service of Northern Ireland said yesterday: "Detectives from PSNI serious crime branch have this evening recovered a rocket launcher and warhead from a house.
"The search was conducted in relation to ongoing dissident republican activity.
The spokesman added: "These weapon systems are clearly intended to kill and we should be in no doubt that the recovery of these items has saved lives."
The items have been taken away for forensic examination.
The pressures facing police in Northern Ireland were highlighted yesterday by rank-and-file colleagues in Great Britain, who questioned the decision to hold this year's G8 summit there given the background of recent demonstrations.
PSNI chief constable Matt Baggott has warned he needs more officers to cope with the security threat and other unrest. It has been suggested that up to 4,000 officers from England, Wales and Scotland as world leaders fly in for the June summit.
Authorities said the weapons were "clearly intended to kill".
The find last night comes against the background of heightened tensions in the province where authorities have been on high alert for fresh attacks for some time.
Dissidents have already been linked to a series of attempts to kill members of the security forces, including soldiers, police and a prison officer.
A spokesman for the Police Service of Northern Ireland said yesterday: "Detectives from PSNI serious crime branch have this evening recovered a rocket launcher and warhead from a house.
"The search was conducted in relation to ongoing dissident republican activity.
The spokesman added: "These weapon systems are clearly intended to kill and we should be in no doubt that the recovery of these items has saved lives."
The items have been taken away for forensic examination.
The pressures facing police in Northern Ireland were highlighted yesterday by rank-and-file colleagues in Great Britain, who questioned the decision to hold this year's G8 summit there given the background of recent demonstrations.
PSNI chief constable Matt Baggott has warned he needs more officers to cope with the security threat and other unrest. It has been suggested that up to 4,000 officers from England, Wales and Scotland as world leaders fly in for the June summit.
