Saturday 31 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 19956Threats with a firearm and assault on gardaí · Co. Dublin · 31 Oct 2026

Firearm aimed at gardaí during attempted arrest in Dublin

On Saturday 31 October 2026, at around 5am on Abbey Street in Dublin city centre, a male cyclist fled from three gardaí on patrol, including a trainee garda, after they tried to speak to him. After he was caught, a struggle broke out in which one garda was assaulted and slightly injured, and the man produced a suspected firearm and aimed it at the gardaí, who took cover. He then threw the weapon into the River Liffey and fled, and a preliminary examination of a magazine recovered from the weapon indicates it was a realistic imitation firearm. No arrest or charge has been reported, and searches of the river and area, along with an appeal for witnesses and camera footage, are ongoing.

  1. Reported31 Oct
    4 reports
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Three gardaí on active patrol, including a trainee garda, saw a male cyclist acting suspiciously.
  • Gardaí caught the cyclist, and a struggle broke out in which one garda was assaulted and slightly injured.
Where
The incident happened on Abbey Street in Dublin city centre.
When
The incident happened shortly before 5am on Saturday 31 October 2026.
Cause
The cyclist fled when gardaí tried to speak to him and was pursued by the gardaí.
Weapon
  • The suspect produced a suspected firearm and aimed it at the gardaí, who took cover.
  • A preliminary examination of a magazine from the weapon indicates it was a realistic imitation firearm.
Investigation
  • The suspect threw the weapon into the River Liffey and fled, and the gun has not been recovered.
  • Searches of the area and the river are ongoing, and a magazine recovered from the weapon is being sent for forensic examination.
  • Gardaí are appealing for witnesses and for camera or dash-cam footage from the area between 4.45am and 5.15am.
Charges
No arrest or charge has been reported.
Other details
  • Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly said the incident shows the dangers gardaí face on duty.
  • Investigations remain ongoing.
43 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA gun was pointed at gardaí, including a trainee garda, as they tried to carry out an arrest. (rte.ie)
  • whatThree gardaí were on active patrol when they saw a male cyclist acting suspiciously. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatThe cyclist fled when the gardaí tried to speak to him. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatGardaí caught the cyclist, but a struggle broke out and one garda was assaulted. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatDuring a struggle after the man was apprehended, one garda was assaulted and received minor injuries. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatGardaí are searching for a man who pulled out a firearm and threatened uniformed officers. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatOne garda was assaulted during the scuffle and received minor injuries. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereGardaí were on patrol in Abbey Street in Dublin city centre. (rte.ie)
  • whereThe incident happened on Abbey Street in Dublin city centre. (dublinlive.ie, thejournal.ie, irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe incident happened shortly before 5am on 31 October 2026. (rte.ie, thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe incident happened at around 5am on a Saturday morning. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whenThe incident happened at around 5am on Saturday 31 October 2026. (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeGardaí saw a cyclist acting suspiciously, and he fled when they tried to speak to him. (rte.ie)
  • causeGardaí observed a male cyclist acting suspiciously. (thejournal.ie)
  • causeTwo gardaí and a trainee garda on patrol saw a cyclist acting suspiciously, and he fled when they tried to speak to him. (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeA struggle broke out when gardaí caught the man. (irishmirror.ie)
  • weaponThe suspect reportedly produced a firearm and aimed it at three gardaí. (rte.ie)
  • weaponDuring the struggle the suspect produced a suspected firearm and aimed it at the gardaí, who took cover. (dublinlive.ie)
  • weaponThe suspect produced a firearm and aimed it at the gardaí, forcing them to seek cover. (thejournal.ie)
  • weaponThe man discarded the firearm into the River Liffey as he fled. (thejournal.ie)
  • weaponA preliminary examination of the magazine indicates the weapon is a realistic imitation firearm. (thejournal.ie)
  • weaponThe man took out a gun and aimed it at the gardaí, forcing them to seek cover. (irishmirror.ie)
  • weaponA preliminary investigation suggests the weapon is a realistic imitation firearm. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationA preliminary examination of a magazine suggests the weapon was a realistic imitation firearm. (rte.ie)
  • investigationSearches of the area and the river are ongoing to recover the firearm. (rte.ie, thejournal.ie)
  • investigationGardaí are appealing for witnesses and for camera or dash-cam footage from the area between 4.45am and 5.15am. (rte.ie)
  • investigationGardaí are searching the area and the river for the firearm. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationA magazine from the weapon was recovered and will be sent for forensic examination. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationGardaí are appealing for witnesses and for camera footage, including dash-cam recordings, from the surrounding area between 4:45am and 5:15am. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationA magazine from the weapon was recovered and will be sent for forensic testing. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationGardaí are appealing to anyone who witnessed the incident to come forward. (thejournal.ie, irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí are also appealing for camera footage, including dash-cam recordings, from the area between 4.45am and 5.15am. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationThe man fled the scene and threw the weapon into the River Liffey. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationA magazine from the gun was recovered and will be sent for forensic examination. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe gun has not been recovered, and searches of the river and area are ongoing. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí appeal for camera footage, including dash-cam recordings, from the area between 4.45am and 5.15am. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherOne garda was assaulted and slightly injured. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe suspect reportedly threw the weapon into the River Liffey before fleeing. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe Garda Commissioner said the incident shows the dangers gardaí face on duty. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe suspect fled the scene after discarding the firearm in the River Liffey. (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherEarly indications are that the weapon was a realistic imitation firearm. (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherThe cyclist fled and was pursued by two uniformed gardaí and a trainee garda. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherInvestigations remain ongoing. (thejournal.ie, irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 31 Oct2026
    Reportedirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Manhunt underway after gun pointed at three Gardai in terrifying incident

    Adds that the gun is believed to be a realistic imitation firearm, that the suspect threw it into the River Liffey and fled, that a magazine was recovered, that Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly commended the officers, and gives the appeal for camera and dash-cam footage and the Store Street Garda Station contact details. No arrest is reported.

    suspect, malevictim
  2. 31 Oct2026
    Reportedthejournal.ie, follow-up
    Investigation launched after garda assaulted in firearm-related incident

    First report of this incident. It states the garda suffered minor injuries, that the firearm is believed to be a realistic imitation, and that searches of the river are ongoing.

    victimsuspect, male
  3. 31 Oct2026
    Reporteddublinlive.ie, follow-up
    Gardai forced to seek cover after cyclist aims firearm at them

    Original report of the incident. The suspect fled after the struggle, and gardaí are searching the river for the firearm and appealing for witnesses and camera footage.

    suspect, malevictim
  4. 31 Oct2026
    Reportedrte.ie, first report
    Firearm aimed at gardaí during attempted arrest in Dublin

    First report of the incident. No arrest or charge is reported. The suspect reportedly threw the weapon into the River Liffey, and searches are ongoing.

    victimsuspect, male