Teenager questioned in carjacking inquiry

Gardaí were last night questioning a teenager in relation to the latest carjacking incident to take place in Dublin.

A taxi was hijacked in the south Dublin area of Terenure at approximately 5.25am yesterday, when the vehicle stopped to pick up a fare, only for the 36-year-old driver to be threatened with a knife.

The driver was told to hand over money and then instructed to get out of the car.

The assailant then drove off in the direction of the city and the taxi then collided with another vehicle on the Old Cabra Rd in Dublin 7 at approximately 5.45am.

The teenage hijacker of the taxi then tried to flee the scene, but was arrested by Gardaí a short distance away.

The 15-year-old was taken to Rathmines Garda Station where he was detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.

No one was injured during the incident.

It was the second carjacking incident to have taken place in Terenure in the past three days, although gardaí said there was no indication of any link between yesterday’s incident and another attack which took place on Friday afternoon.

In that instance a woman was stopped at traffic lights at the junction of Zion Rd and Orwell Rd at approximately 3.40pm, when a man jumped into the back seat of the vehicle.

He claimed to have a weapon, threatened the woman, and demanded money. There were children in the car at the time.

The woman was forced to drive to her home so she could retrieve bank cards before then driving to the AIB Bank in nearby Rathgar to withdraw cash. She was then instructed to drive to Portobello, where the assailant left the car.

As of last night, no arrests had yet been made in that case and gardaí are still appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to contact them at Terenure Garda Station on 01 6666 400. The man involved in the incident is described as being approximately 5’9”, with shaved dark hair, unshaven face, medium build, wearing a dark wax-type jacket and dark scarf.