Man held after weapons haul found in car

A man was being quizzed by detectives last night after five shotguns and a bag of ammunition were found in his car.

The car did a U-turn at a garda checkpoint in West Dublin at around 7pm but was apprehended by armed detectives nearby.

Officers discovered five shotguns hidden in various parts of the car and ammunition.

The driver, in his 20s, was arrested at the scene in Rathcoole and was being held under Section 30 of the Offences against the State Act.

He was taken to Clondalkin garda station where he can be held for up to 72 hours before being charged or released.

The car was being forensically examined today and gardaí say follow-up investigations are continuing.

It is the first arms find since the beginning of Operation Crossover – a garda operation targeting gangland activities in west Dublin suburbs.

Meanwhile gardaí at Raheny on Dublin’s northside are investigating an attempted armed robbery of a security van at a bank on the Howth Road this afternoon.

A lone gunman approached the security van and threatened staff.

One shot was fired and the raider fled.

No one was hurt and no money was taken.