Updated 9.50pm

THREE WOMEN WERE abducted at gunpoint in Malahide Co Dublin in the early hours of this morning, in what has been described as a “tiger kidnapping”

Three masked men drove them entered their home in Malahide, kidnapping them and driving them to the Post Office at Bayside in Sutton, where they stole an undisclosed amount of cash.

The raiders left the scene in what Gardaí say was a dark-coloured car. The women, one of whom is understood to be the postmistress at Bayside, were released uninjured but traumatised, according to Gardaí.

There were dramatic scenes later in the morning, when the Garda emergency response unit (ERU) intercepted a vehicle on the Malahide Road.

They arrested a man in his 20s, firing shots in the process.

Gardaí are still searching for two other males, and have offered the following descriptions:

1. Late 40s/early 50s, grey-white hair, chubby build, 5′ 10″ in height wearing dark leggings and similar top
2. Late 40s/ early 50s, chubby build, dark grey hair, wearing blue runners with a green stripe. Both men spoke with Dublin accents, according to Gardaí.

Anyone with information is asked to call Gardaí on 666-4200, the Confidential Line on 1800-666-111, or contact any Garda Station.

Fianna Fáil Senator Averil Power, who lives in Bayside, has condemned what she called a “brutal tiger kidnapping.”

[This] is every business person’s worst nightmare and this must have been a particularly frightening experience for these three women.

I live across the road from this post office and residents are in shock this morning.  This is not the first attack on our local post office.

The community is appalled by this attack and concerned about public safety.

Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald also condemned the kidnappings:

“So-called tiger kidnappings are a particularly callous and cowardly form of crime,” she said. “Our thoughts must be with the victims of such a despicable crime earlier today as well as the hope that they can recover from their dreadful ordeal.”

“I commend the actions of the gardaí in their determined efforts to thwart those who carry out such evil acts and ensure that they are brought to justice,” she added.

- Additional reporting by Michelle Hennessy.

First published 11.29am

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