Three arrested in connection with Dublin taxi hijack

Gardaí in Dublin have arrested three men in connection with hijacking a taxi and seriously assaulting the driver.

The incident happened in Palmerstown in the early hours of this morning.

Just before 4am a 32-year-old taxi driver stopped on the N4 to pick up a fare.

Three men got into the taxi - aged 19, 21 and 28.

They threatened the driver with what is believed to have been a knife and forced him to drive to the Tubber Lane area of Lucan.

When they got there they assaulted him and then drove off in the taxi.

The injured man managed to raise the alarm and the car was found on fire a short time later in the area.

Three men were arrested shortly afterwards and are being detained at Lucan and Ronanstown Garda Station under Section 4 Criminal Justice Act 1984.

The area has been sealed off and gardaí are appealing to any witnesses to the incident to come forward.