Manhunt underway for man who allegedly robbed Cork taxi driver at knifepoint

A male passenger is believed to have put a knife to a taxi driver’s throat near Ballyvolane Fire Station earlier this morning

The taxi driver, who is in his 60s, is said to be extremely shaken by the armed theft but is not physically injured. File photo: Wanderley Massafelli/RollingNews.ie

A manhunt is underway in Cork after a man robbed a taxi driver at knifepoint at 10am this morning.

A male passenger put a knife to the taxi driver’s throat and stole money from him during the incident near Ballyvolane Fire Station.

The taxi driver, who is in his 60s, is said to be extremely shaken by the armed theft but is not physically injured.

In a statement, Gardaí confirmed that the force is looking into the violent incident.

"Gardaí at Watercourse Road are investigating a theft that occurred at Spring Lane in Blackpool.

"At approximately 10am, a man, aged in his 60s, was threatened with a knife by a male passenger who was in his vehicle at the time.

"The man demanded money from the driver and later left the vehicle with a sum of cash. No injuries were reported and no arrests have been made," it said.

The assailant was described as in his 30s, of low height, and according to reports, was wearing a dirty white jacket.

The community is "on red alert" after the armed robbery, local Labour Councillor John Maher told the Irish Examiner.

“This has put everyone on red alert.

“If someone can do this to a taxi driver they could do it to someone on the street in the community too.” He appealed to anyone with any information about the incident to contact gardaí.

“Any little thing could help gardaí piece this together. Get onto the gardaí if you saw anything,” he said.

An assailant could escape in up to four directions from the area where the incident took place, he added.

“There are a number of directions you could go to get away. Some of that area is a no-man's land."

Today’s violent attack is the second incident in recent weeks where a taxi driver was held by the neck and robbed.

A similar incident occurred on the Carrigrohane Straight near the Lee Fields when a passenger grabbed a taxi driver by the neck and demanded cash at about 11pm on the night in question.

A passing garda car intercepted the incident and the assailant was arrested and charged.

More to follow…