Discovered at Whitehouse Park, a number of homes had to be evacuated in the early hours of Sunday Morning while army bomb experts secured the area.
Councillor Billy Webb said: “I must condemn those behind this incident, which had the potential to end far more seriously.
“While it remains uncertain who was behind this direct attack on the local area, one thing is clear – the community remains united in condemning this kind of thuggish behaviour and won’t allow those behind it to drag us back to the past.
“I want to recognise and praise all involved in bringing this alert to an end safely, including the staff from Newtownabbey Borough Council who opened and manned the Valley Leisure Centre, allowing those who were forced to evacuate the homes a safe and welcoming place to take refuge
“I would appeal to anyone with information to contact the PSNI as soon as possible so that those behind this attack on a local community can be removed from the streets as soon as possible.”