The bomb squad has taken apart a dangerous device found in a car south-west of Brisbane.

A man and a woman have been charged over the incident, after the discovery of the device prompted a lockdown of the area around Redbank Plaza in Ipswich about 9.15am.

An Explosive Ordnance Response Team searches a car at Redbank Plaza car park.

The emergency situation under the Public Safety Preservation Act was lifted at 11.35am.

A police spokeswoman said the device "had the capability of causing serious harm".