Non-nationals threw ‘gun’ from car during chase

THREE non-nationals were arrested following a chase during which they threw an imitation firearm from their silver BMW.

Gardaí in Bandon, Co Cork started searching for the men after they received a call that they had threatened the occupants of a house in the town and demanded money from them.

“Gardaí received a call from the occupants of a house in the town at 11pm on Wednesday and started to search for the men. They also mounted checkpoints in the area,” a Garda spokesman said.

Gardaí, who mounted a checkpoint at New Street, were checking a car when they noticed the BMW approaching.

They then saw that the BMW was turning around and took off after it.

A short time later they noticed that something had been thrown from the car and after intercepting the vehicle later discovered that it was an imitation firearm.

They arrested three men at the scene and brought them to Bandon Garda Station for questioning.

The Garda spokesman said that all three men, who are in their 20s and 30s, were being detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against The State Act.

Meanwhile, in a separate incident gardaí in Cork city are investigating an arson attack on three vans owned by a Lithuanian group involved in door-to-door clothing collections.

The vans were set on fire early yesterday morning while they were parked at Curragh Woods in Frankfield.

The emergency services were alerted shortly before 1.30am.

Gardaí believe the arson attacks could represent an escalation in a turf war between non-nationals involved in collecting clothes which are then sold abroad.

The trade is believed to be highly lucrative.

Gardaí were yesterday carrying out forensic examinations of the vans in the hope of uncovering clues as to the identity of the arsonists.

Last January a major row broke out when a van carrying clothes was attacked by men armed with hurleys on the road between the Frankfield and Sarsfield road roundabouts.