The incident mirrors a similar attempted attack at Lurgan Police Station last month.
First Minister Michelle O’Neill has said that those behind a car explosion outside Dunmurry Police Station on Saturday night “have nothing to offer society.”
A food delivery vehicle was hijacked in the Twinbrook area of West Belfast shortly after 10:50pm. A gas cylinder device was placed in the boot, and the driver was forced to drive to the police station.
The device exploded as residents, including two babies, were being evacuated from nearby homes. No one was harmed in the incident.
The incident mirrors a similar attempted attack at Lurgan Police Station last month.
First Minister Michelle O’Neill said: “Those behind this reckless attack have put lives in danger and shown a total disregard for the local community.
“Our thoughts are with the delivery driver who was put through an extremely terrifying ordeal, as well as those residents who had to be evacuated.
“It is extremely fortunate that nobody was killed or seriously injured by the selfish actions of those who have nothing to offer our society.”
Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said: “Those responsible for this despicable attack put lives at risk. I have no doubt all right-thinking people will reject this sort of behaviour and see it as a cowardly attempt to try and drag us all backwards.
“We would like to commend the police officers for their swift response to this incident; their courage in the face of danger ensured local residents were protected.
“We would appeal to anyone with information to contact the PSNI.”
Justice Minister Naomi Long expressed her gratitude to officers who responded to the incident “in a prompt and professional manner.”
She said: “It is simply unconscionable that just a few weeks after the widespread condemnation of the attack in Lurgan, that this incident has occurred in Dunmurry.
“Despite the fact that acts of violence such as this have been roundly rejected, lives have once again been put at risk by the actions of a very small minority who offer nothing but devastation and destruction.
“Indeed, it is extremely fortunate that no one was hurt or even killed as a result of this despicable attack.
“Those behind this attack have demonstrated a total disregard for every single person living in the area.
“My thoughts are with the motorist who has no doubt been left utterly traumatised by their ordeal, as well as the officers who were targeted in this cowardly attack.
“I would like also to pay tribute to those very same officers who, despite the threat they face, continue to turn up to work every day to serve the community.
“My gratitude also goes to the officers who responded to this incident in such a prompt and professional manner.”
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn, described the incident as a “cowardly attempt to cause injury and destruction.”
“By targeting a police station in the heart of a residential area, those responsible have shown a total disregard for the lives of local people and for the men and women who work to keep our communities safe,” he said. “We are resolute in our commitment to peace, and these actions will only strengthen our collective determination. I would urge anyone with information about who was responsible to come forward to the PSNI.”
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