The officer suffered serious leg injuries when the device exploded as he was travelling along the Drumnaby Road in Spamount village near Castlederg at 9.15pm on Monday night.

He is currently recovering in hospital after undergoing surgery.

His injuries are not thought to be life threatening.

PSNI cheif constable, Hugh Orde, said that the PSNI was determined to put dissident republicans "out of business".

"We had two officers injured last November by determined attacks to kill police officers off duty when they are at their most vulnerable within the communities that they police, he said.

"This attack will not put my officers off delivering community policing and it will not deter any right thinking member of the community to help and to work with us to deliver a safer Northern Ireland and indeed to give us the information we need to put these people out of business once and for all."

The chief constable praised members of the Spamount community who came to the injured officers aid.

"This was an officer on his way to protect the communities in the Fermanagh district and he ended up being protected by the local community who went to his aid when this device exploded, he said.

"I think this shows that the public has no time for this sort of activity.

"The public and the police are determined to work together to make Northern Ireland a safer place and indeed they came to his aid very quickly and I commend and thank them for that."

Strabane Detectives are appealing for anyone who noticed any suspicious activity in the Spamount area in the days leading up to the attack to contact them on 0845 600 8000.