Man held after eight-hour crime spree

A man brandishing a firearm was dramatically arrested by armed gardaí at a shopping centre after an almost eight-hour crime spree across west Dublin involving six carjackings.

Gardaí called out to customers, including mothers with their children, in the Citywest Shopping Centre to “get down, get down” as they pursued the man, arresting him as he emerged from an exit.

A firearm, believed to be a loaded submachine gun, was recovered from the man as six officers managed to restrain him and take him into custody.