Updated at 6.38pm
A MAN HAS been arrested after jumping over the main barrier at Leinster House and attempting to make it to the building’s doors on Kildare Street.
It happened shortly after 4.30pm.
He made it over the front gates but was apprehended in the ‘plinth’ area of the grounds before he could reach the doors, after gardaí and ushers gave chase.
The 19-year-old was carrying a sword and had knives tucked into his socks.
It’s understood one garda received minor injuries in the course of the incident.
An Oireachtas spokesperson confirmed that there had been a security incident at the complex, and that it had now been dealth with.
The spokesperson said security procedures had been followed.
Gardaí confirmed a man had been arrested and taken to nearby Pearse Street Station for questioning.
He’s being detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.
Speaking on tonight’s Six One News, junior minister Seán Sherlock described seeing a man running past him “brandishing a sword above his head”.
“It was quite a surreal experience, to be honest, a breach of security but in fairness to the staff here they handled it very well and responded rapidly.
“The sword itself was something you would see in a movie, a typical rapier, if you will. A sidearm of what would be carried by, perhaps a soldier, built into the waist, something that you would take out of a scabbard.
“He wasn’t shouting or screaming or anything like that…He appeared to be quite calm and that’s what made it surreal. I just happened to turn around and see this gentleman bearing towards the doors.
“It was a one in a million incident.”
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