Gardaí: Too early to link Dublin abduction with tiger kidnapping

Gardaí have said it's too early to say whether last night's botched abduction in north Dublin is linked to two other so-called “tiger kidnappings” in the area in recent days.

However, it has been confirmed that a family who was held hostage at their home on Glasnevin Avenue overnight was targeted because the mother is a keyholder for a post office at Ballygall East in Finglas.

The father and son were driven off by members of the gang in a van, which later broke down on a slipway of the M50 near Blanchardstown.

Gardaí are looking for anyone who may have seen the two gunmen leaving the van shortly after seven o'clock this morning.

Superintendent Gabriel McIntyre said today the armed gang was a professional outfit with good local knowledge: “There was, we believe, up to four people at the scene.

He added: “We believe a certain amount of preparatory work was carried out - they had extensive local knowledge.”