Update 2pm

A MAN IS critically ill in hospital after his arm was partially severed in an attack near a convenience store in Dublin in the early hours of this morning.

Gardaí have arrested two men, aged 27 and 30, after a Romanian man, 35, was attacked with what they say is a machete or a meat cleaver.

He is critically ill in hospital where doctors are trying to reattach his arm, RTÉ reports.

The victim is believed to have been in a Spar shop on the North Circular Road in Dublin 7 at around 1.20am this morning when a row broke out.

The man was then attacked at the junction of Goldsmith Street and the North Circular Road with his arm almost severed from his shoulder.

The man attempted to walk to the nearby Mater Hospital when he was spotted by two gardaí who assisted him.

The two men are being held at Store Street garda station under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act after they were arrested in a flat on the North Circular Road.

Gardaí have asked that anyone who was in the area of the Spar shop and the junction with Goldsmith Street between 1am and 2am to contact gardaí at Mountjoy on 01 666 8600, the garda confidential line on 1800 666 111 or any garda station.