Police in Belfast have thwarted a dissident IRA attempt to launch a warhead against security forces.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland has confirmed that a rocket launcher and warhead were discovered by police in west Belfast.

A spokesman for the PSNI revealed that the weapons were found by officers investigating dissident republican activity in the city.

Irish state broadcaster RTE reports that the weapons were discovered while police were searching a house on Hawthorn Street.

A number of homes in the area were evacuated following the find.

The rocket launcher and warhead have been taken away for forensic examination.

The police spokesperson said: “These weapons systems are clearly intended to kill and we should be in no doubt that the recovery of these items has saved lives.”