Ireland Manhunt under way after firearm aimed at gardaí in Dublin
Three gardaí, including a trainee, were on active patrol on Abbey Street in Dublin city centre at around 5am on Saturday 31 October 2026 when they observed a male cyclist acting suspiciously. The cyclist fled when the officers tried to speak to him, and after a pursuit and struggle in which one garda was assaulted and received minor injuries, the man produced a firearm and aimed it at the three officers, forcing them to seek cover. He then fled the scene and threw the weapon into the River Liffey, where searches are ongoing. A magazine from the weapon was recovered and sent for forensic examination, with preliminary indications that it was a realistic imitation firearm. Gardaí at Store Street are appealing for witnesses and camera footage from the area between 4:45am and 5:15am, and no arrest has been made.
- Reported31 Oct
6 reports - Arrested
- Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Three gardaí, including a trainee, on active patrol observed a male cyclist acting suspiciously and attempted to speak to him.
- The cyclist fled, was pursued and apprehended, and during the resulting struggle one garda was assaulted and received minor injuries.
- The man produced a firearm and aimed it at the three gardaí, forcing them to seek cover, before fleeing the scene.
- Where
- The incident occurred on Abbey Street in Dublin city centre, and Store Street Garda Station is investigating.
- When
- The incident occurred at around 5am on Saturday 31 October 2026.
- Weapon
- The man threw the firearm into the River Liffey, and a magazine was recovered and sent for forensic examination.
- Preliminary examination indicates the weapon was a realistic imitation firearm.
- Investigation
- Searches of the area and the River Liffey are ongoing to recover the firearm.
- Gardaí are appealing for witnesses and camera or dash-cam footage from the area between 4:45am and 5:15am.
- Other details
- No arrest or charge has been reported, and a manhunt is under way.
- Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly spoke to the three gardaí and commended their bravery.
64 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA gun was pointed at gardaí, including a trainee garda, as they tried to carry out an arrest in Dublin. (rte.ie)
- whatGardaí pursued the cyclist, and one garda was assaulted and slightly injured. (rte.ie)
- whatThe suspect produced a firearm and aimed it at three gardaí, forcing them to seek cover. (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)
- whatA member of An Garda Síochána suffered minor injuries (extra.ie)
- whatThree members of the force were assaulted by a cyclist in Dublin (extra.ie)
- whatThe three Gardaí noticed a male cyclist acting suspiciously (extra.ie)
- whatThe cyclist brandished a gun (extra.ie)
- whatThe man fled when gardaí tried to speak with him and was chased by three officers. (gript.ie)
- whatA physical confrontation followed and one officer sustained minor injuries from an assault. (gript.ie)
- whereGardaí at Store Street are investigating. (rte.ie)
- whereGardaí were on patrol in Abbey Street in the city centre. (rte.ie)
- whereThe incident happened on Abbey Street in Dublin city centre. (dublinlive.ie, thejournal.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- whereThree Gardaí were on active patrol on Abbey Street (extra.ie)
- whereGardaí on patrol along Abbey Street spotted a male cyclist behaving suspiciously. (gript.ie)
- whenThe incident happened shortly before 5am. (rte.ie)
- whenThe incident happened at around 5am on a Saturday morning. (dublinlive.ie)
- whenThe incident happened shortly before 5am on 31 October 2026. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe incident happened at around 5am on Saturday 31 October 2026. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe incident occurred during the early hours of Saturday morning 31 October 2026 (extra.ie)
- whenThe incident began shortly before 5am. (gript.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)
- weaponA preliminary examination of a magazine indicates the weapon was a realistic imitation firearm. (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)
- weaponThe man produced a weapon and aimed it directly at the gardaí, who were forced to take cover. (gript.ie)
- weaponThe suspect threw the firearm into the River Liffey as he escaped. (gript.ie)
- weaponA preliminary assessment suggests the weapon was a realistic imitation firearm. (gript.ie)
- investigationAn investigation is under way. (rte.ie)
- investigationSearches of the area and the river are ongoing to recover the firearm. (rte.ie, thejournal.ie)
- investigationGardaí are appealing to witnesses and to anyone with camera footage, including dash-cam footage, to come forward. (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)
- investigationAn ammunition magazine from the gun was left behind and secured for forensic testing. (gript.ie)
- investigationSearches of the surrounding area and the river bed are ongoing to locate the discarded weapon. (gript.ie)
- investigationGardaí at Store Street are appealing for witnesses. (gript.ie)
- investigationInvestigators want camera or dash-cam footage from Abbey Street, Jervis Street, the Quays and Temple Bar. (gript.ie)
- otherThe suspect threw the weapon into the River Liffey and fled the scene. (rte.ie)
- otherGarda Commissioner Justin Kelly spoke to the three gardaí who policed the incident to check on their welfare. (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)
- otherThe Garda Commissioner commended the bravery of the officers involved. (gript.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 31 Oct2026Gun aimed at Gardaí during struggle in Dublin city centre - Gript
Adds that the man threw the firearm into the River Liffey while escaping, that an ammunition magazine was left behind and secured for forensic testing, that a preliminary assessment suggests the weapon was a realistic imitation firearm, that searches of the area and river bed are ongoing, and that the Garda Commissioner praised the officers. Still no suspect identified and no arrest reported.
suspect, malevictim - 31 Oct2026Garda assaulted after cyclist brandished gun in Dublin street
This extra.ie report confirms the Abbey Street incident and states the garda suffered minor injuries; the headline references the cyclist brandishing a gun.
victimsuspect, male - 31 Oct2026Manhunt 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 - 31 Oct2026Investigation 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 - 31 Oct2026Gardai 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 - 31 Oct2026Firearm 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.
suspectvictim
Changed after publication
facts outlets added, removed or correctedrte.ie, 31 Oct 2026, 17:58: Firearm aimed at gardaí during attempted arrest in Dublin
- AddedGarda Commissioner Justin Kelly said he had spoken to the three gardaí who policed the incident to check on their welfare.
- AddedCommissioner Kelly added a quote commending the bravery of all gardaí involved.
- AddedCommissioner Kelly added a quote saying gardaí regularly go above and beyond in keeping people safe.