Gunmen with suspected AK47 assault rifles kill young man as terrified families evacuated
Terrified families were evacuated from their homes early this morning after a suspected bomb was found in the residential area where a young man was shot dead in Dublin city early this morning.
The killing appears to have been organised and is suspected to have been gangland-related.
Three men were arrested and a number of vehicles have been seized.
The fatal shooting took place at around 12.15am on the Knocknarea Road in Drimnagh.
High-powered firearms, possibly AK47s, are understood to have been used in the attack.
Multiple gunshots were heard by local residents at the time of the killing early this morning with more than 15 rounds understood to have been fired.
The victim was travelling alone in a car at the time of the attack, it is understood.
His vehicle was in a collision before he was shot at in what appears to have been a targeted hit, it is understood.
An improvised explosive device (IED) was also found.
A garda cordon at the scene on Knocknarea Rd in the Drimnagh area of south Dublin, where a man has died following a shooting in the early hours of Monday. Picture: Evan Treacy/PA Wire
A garda cordon at the scene on Knocknarea Rd in the Drimnagh area of south Dublin, where a man has died following a shooting in the early hours of Monday. Picture: Evan Treacy/PA Wire
Defence Forces Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) experts responded to a request for assistance with a potential explosive device at the scene from gardaí last night.
“Following an assessment by our EOD team this device was removed from the scene, and the scene was made safe,” a statement from the Defence Forces said.
“This operation has concluded and all elements have been returned to Barracks.” Families were evacuated from their homes after the suspected pipe bomb was found near the shooting, Sinn Féin Cllr Daithí Doolan, chairperson of the Joint Policing Committee and a local resident, said.
This morning’s violence was an attack on the whole community, he said.
“An alleged pipe bomb was found in a car at the scene. It put people at risk.
“And a bullet went through the local community centre up the road. So a number of sites have been sealed off today.
“People were terrified.
“What happened last night will live on in people’s memories for a long time.
“Children, babies in buggies, were taken out of their houses in the middle of the night. It’s absolutely unacceptable that criminals are doing this to good, decent hard-working communities.
“But I applaud the emergency services for their fast response in getting people out of their homes last night.”
Mr Doolan said that last night’s killing appeared to be professional and looked like a gangland murder.
“I could hear the helicopter above for a long, long time last night and you knew this was something serious,” he said “Blue tape is everywhere today, guards are everywhere, roads are sealed-off.
“People are very shocked, frightened. I express deep sympathy for the family and friends of the person who was shot dead last night.
“It’s so sad to be waking up on a Bank Holiday to another family left grieving, a community left in shock, as a result of gun crime in Dublin.
“I have to empahise that anyone with any information – no matter how small or insignificant they think it is – to please communicate it to the gardaí. Because those involved in this awful crime need to be brought to justice. We cannot allow criminals involved in gun crime to be holding communities like Drimnagh hostage.
“This is a great community, I’m raising a family myself here. I’m sure people will rally around the gardaí to help bring these people to justice.”
The government “needs to get a grip” on gun crime in the city, he said.
“We need to make sure the intelligence unit in the gardaí are fully resourced so they can apprehend these people before they commit these crimes. Gardaí need to be able to stop and search cars and take guns off people before they can go and shoot people.”
A damaged car at the scene on Knocknarea Rd in the Drimnagh area of south Dublin, where a man has died following a shooting in the early hours of Monday. Picture: Evan Treacy/PA Wire
A damaged car at the scene on Knocknarea Rd in the Drimnagh area of south Dublin, where a man has died following a shooting in the early hours of Monday. Picture: Evan Treacy/PA Wire
He commended Solas, the local youth service, for opening its doors today for any young people who need support or counselling in the area.
“Last night’s shooting here in Drimnagh has left a young man dead, a family grieving and a community in shock. It was an attack on the whole community,” he said.
The body of the victim remained at the scene today while a post-mortem was being arranged.
The scene was preserved and the Garda Technical Bureau carried out an examination.
The three men who were arrested shortly after the killing are being held at garda stations in Dublin under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act 1939.
The investigation is being led by a Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) from an incident room at Sundrive Road Garda Station.
Joan Collins, People Before Profit TD for Dublin South Central, said that the local community was shocked by the killing.
“It’s tragic news. People are shocked in the area. I pass on my condolences, sympathy and solidarity to the family and solidarity to the community. It’s terrible news and my thoughts are with his family and friends.” Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to these incidents to come forward.
“Anyone with any information that can assist gardaí with their investigation is asked to contact Sundrive Road Garda Station on 01 666 6600, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any garda station,” the garda spokesperson said.
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