Residents flee pipe bomb in abandoned car
More than 100 residents had to be evacuated after a pipe bomb was found in an abandoned car on a Dublin estate.
Army bomb disposal units rushed to the scene of the latest city bomb threat as gardai sealed off the area last night.
The bomb was found in the front seat of a blue Mazda 3 car that had been reported stolen.
Detectives are now investigating whether a local gang, who previously specialised in burglaries and theft of high powered cars, have moved into the bomb and gun arena.
Up to 50 homes had to be evacuated by gardai in the Marigold Court estate in Darndale. Terrified residents were directed to leave the area, while gardai and Army personnel moved to secure the streets and laneways around the car.
The alert was raised about 6pm yesterday when a routine garda patrol found the high powered car in a laneway.
Believing it had been stolen, they searched the car and found the suspicious device. It had been left lying in the front seat.
Frightening
An armed support unit joined gardai at the scene. An Army Bomb Disposal Unit was also called in as locals quickly filed out of their homes.
A man is currently being questioned by detectives in relation to the incident after he was arrested shortly after the alert.
The 22-year-old man, originally from the Tallaght area, but with addresses in Coolock and Drogheda, was arrested by detectives close to the scene of the bomb alert.
He is being held at Coolock Garda Station under the Offences Against the State Act.
"Residents are very upset. It was disturbing for them. This was a frightening experience for all of them," said local councillor Larry O'Toole.
But he said the Garda response was quick adding:. "They had the situation under control." The device was taken to Cathal Brugha Barracks in Rathmines for further examination.
Detectives in the area are looking at the possibility that the device may have been en route to another location when the car was abandoned.
It is not yet known why the pipe bomb was left in the car or if the Darndale laneway was its final destination.
- Lisa-Anne Crookes
