Misstänkt terrordåd i stad på Irland. 2018-01-03

En man har dödats och två har skadats i en serie attacker med kniv och järnrör i staden Dundalk på Irland.

En misstänkt gärningsman har gripits.

Polisen tror att mannen valt ut sina offer slumpmässigt.

En man dog när han överfölls bakifrån och höggs i ryggen på en gata i staden, skriver irländska Independent. Mannen uppges vara en 24-årig man från Japan. Han dödförklarades på platsen, enligt tidningen.

Dessutom hittades två irländska män skadade efter att ha angripits med ett järnrör. Männens skador är inte livshotande.


När polisen konfronterade den misstänkte gärningsmannen i området var han beväpnad med en kniv och ett järnrör. Han gjorde utfall mot polisen men kunde avväpnas och gripas.

Mannen tros vara en 18-årig man med ursprung i Syrien, enligt Independent. Andra medier, bland annat irländska The Sun, uppger att mannen är från Egypten.

Niall O'Connor, a journalist with The Irish Mirror tweeted: "The bravery of uniformed unarmed #Gardai in #Dundalk is extraordinary.

"They disarmed a crazed knifeman who was hell-bent on stabbing as many people as possible."

Louth Sinn Féin Councillor Ruairí Ó Murchú visited the murder scene on the Avenue Road in Dundalk today to speak with locals and commend Dundalk Gardaí for their fast reactions.

Cllr Ó Murchú said: "The community is in shock and they are appalled to hear what has happened. I want to also commend the actions of the Gardaí as they were summoned to the scene they were able to disarm the attacker and have subsequently arrested him."

Gardai told RTE news that they are currently trying to establish a motive for the attack, including the possibility that it was planned.

There are 63,400 practising Muslims living in Ireland and approximately 50 mosques and prayer centres within the State, with five Muslim clergymen or qualified imams.

Of the 63,400 Muslims currently living here, it is estimated they represent more than 40 different nationalities.

Muslim leaders here have spoken out against the recent terrorist attacks, carried out in the name of Islam, stating that there is nothing religious about their actions.

Shaykh Dr Umar al-Qadri, head imam at the Islamic Cultural Centre Ireland said his religion has been hijacked by those who are not true Muslims. “This is a holy month for us [the Islamic holy month of fasting Ramadan], true Muslims are fasting and praying not killing people,” Dr al-Qadri told the Irish Examiner.

He is also chairman of the Irish Muslim Peace and Integration Council and said that people who carry out atrocities in the name of Islam, do not understand the religion. “These are extremists views that they hold. It’s a distorted view of Islam and they use this to justify their attacks.

“They are a minority but it only takes one or two before everyone is affected,” he said. Dr al-Qadri said it is up to all Muslim leaders to speak out. He also pointed out that his own community is affected by terrorist atrocities.

The attacker has been identified as an 18-year-old Egyptian who had been in contact with the police on New Year's Day with regards his immigration status.

Gardai have not established a definite motive for the violent spree, but Chief Superintendent Christy Mangan said a potential terror link was being investigated.

'A terror attack is a line of inquiry,' he said.

'It is certainly a line that we would look at. We will endeavour to establish the suspect's background, who they are and where they have come from and why are they here.

An 18-year-old man remains in custody following a fatal knife attack in Dundalk on Wednesday.

Japanese national Yosuke Sasaki, 24, died after he was stabbed in the back as he walked along Avenue Road in the County Louth town.

An Egyptian teenager was arrested on suspicion of murder.

The Gardaí (Irish police) say they can find "no established link" to indicate the attack is "terrorist related".