Children held over AK47 raid
Friday October 30 2009
THREE child suspects have been detained after a takeaway was held up with an AK47 rifle.
The Russian-made rifle was one of two firearms seized by officers investigating the raid on a kebab shop in Wexford.
It is understood the under-age assailants pointed the AK47 and a handgun in the face of a terrified Abrakebabra staff member. She was ordered to hand over cash from the till, with the raiders escaping with a sum of money thought to be less than €100.
Officers from Wexford Garda Station seized the guns yesterday morning at an address where three teenagers were also arrested.
The weapons were seized for a ballistic examination.
Tests being carried out on the weapons are expected to show whether they are real guns or just replicas.
The AK47, designed by Russian soldier Mikhail Kalashnikov during World War II, is considered the most effective combat weapon ever produced.
While the raid on Tuesday only lasted a few seconds, it was a terrifying ordeal for staff at the fast-food restaurant.
Gardai arrived on the scene a very short time after being alerted to the incident by the workers and immediately began carrying out searches.
During the searches, three youths under the age of 18 were arrested. The two weapons and a small amount of cash were recovered.
A fourth person, an adult, was arrested yesterday afternoon. They can be held up to 72 hours for questioning.
comurphy@herald.ie
- Cormac Murphy
