Police investigating bomb alerts in Lurgan came under attack from youths throwing petrol bombs and other missiles late on Saturday night.

No-one was hurt, but it came just hours after three children were injured in another explosion in the town.

In the earlier attack a no-warning bomb went off in a bin at North Street as police investigated reports of a device left at the Model Primary school.

Two children aged 12 and one aged two, suffered cuts and shock from debris.

The bomb went off at a junction where police would have been expected to put up a cordon around the school. The explosion injured the children after it blew a hole in a metal fence.

Three other alerts in the town were declared elaborate hoaxes.

Analysis Most politicians in Belfast believe the government has been secretly talking to dissident republicans in recent months. It was officially denied this week, but many believe private communication has taken place. It may be indirect but it is, nonetheless, contact. If true, the move would be significant on two fronts. Firstly, it would suggest that the dissidents are not as uncompromising as they like to appear. Secondly, it would indicate just how seriously the authorities are taking the current threat. Bombs are being planted on a regular basis and there is no sign of it stopping. It is by no means on the same scale as the Provisional IRA campaign in the 1970s and 1980s. Violence is no longer part of the fabric of life in Northern Ireland. But some weeks - like this one - it feels close to it.

Chief Inspector Sam Cordner it was "an absolute miracle" that the children were not more seriously injured "by this sickening attack on the most vulnerable members of our community".

He said the fact that an object was said to have been left in one area, then a bomb exploded in a different place "has similarities to the (1998) Omagh bombing that we would not like to repeat".

"This no-warning explosion occurred in North Street in Lurgan and was an obvious attempt to kill police or injure police officers providing a service to this community as they responded to a neighbouring area following a very vague warning that a device had been left at a local school," he said.

He also condemned the attacks on his officers who he said had suffered a sustained attack with petrol bombs and missiles while trying to protect this community.

Image caption Police were attacked on Saturday night

Chief Inspector Cordner called on "all right-minded members of the community to help the PSNI in bringing these criminals to justice".

There have been a number of bomb attacks on security forces by dissident republican terrorists this month, including a 200lb device which exploded outside Strand Road police station in Londonderry.

Dissidents are also believed to have been responsible for leaving booby-trap bombs under the cars of a soldier, policewoman and civilian police station guard in Bangor, Kilkeel and Cookstown.

'Disgusting'

The bomb and later attacks on police have been condemned by the first and deputy first ministers.

First Minister Peter Robinson said: "Yesterday's bomb attack was designed to maim, injure and kill whoever happened to be close by, including children.

"There can be no doubt as to just how depraved and evil these criminals are."

Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said: "No cause or belief will be served by attacks on our children.

"These attacks must stop and stop now, this is not the way forward for any section of our society."

SDLP assembly member Delores Kelly said the violence was disgusting.

"I think that like the majority of people in the town, I am absolutely disgusted at this despicable and diabolical act, we are just grateful this morning that there weren't people killed or more seriously injured.

"Certainly those who placed the devices and caused the difficulties last night that was their intent."