Police in Northern Ireland have charged four men as part of an investigation into dissident republican terrorist activity.

The men were arrested in the Lurgan area last week.

Detectives recovered a fully prepared Explosively Formed Projectile (EFP), which was ready for deployment.

The PSNI say the potentially lethal device has been made safe.

An EFP is an improvised explosive device, designed to penetrate armour plating when fired at relatively close range from a makeshift launcher.

A 22-year-old man has been charged with the attempted murder of police officers and possession of explosives with intent to endanger life.

Three men - aged 22, 24 and 46 - have been charged with preparation of terrorist acts, namely the targeting of a former member of the security forces in the Craigavon area.

All four men will appear at Craigavon Magistrates' Court today.

Assistant Chief Constable Will Kerr said: "We are relieved and delighted to have taken an extremely dangerous explosive device out of circulation.

"Our experience of these devices in Northern Ireland has been that they have been used to try to kill police officers.

"Our action has probably saved lives and definitely made the community safer."

A photo of part of the device, released by police, shows the makeshift casing, a detonator, Semtex and copper piping.

Image: PSNI

It was located in a derelict house in a residential area.

A 22-year-old man arrested last Thursday as part of the same investigation was released unconditionally over the weekend.