LAST UPDATE | 11 Mar 2019

A WELL-KNOWN criminal has been arrested after shots were fired during an incident in Ballymun this afternoon. 

In videos shared on social media, the man can be seen walking down Cranogue Road in the north Dublin suburb holding what appears to be an automatic machine gun.

Uniformed units responded to the call. The man ran into a nearby house where he barricaded himself inside. Gardaí entered the house and it is understood a number of shots were fired in their direction. Nobody was injured in the incident.

After the man was apprehended, gardaí spotted a grenade. Defence Forces were then ordered to the area where a controlled explosion was carried out.

Garda confirmed that a man has been arrested after what a spokesman described as a “firearms incident” on the Cranogue Road in the north Dublin suburb. 

A garda spokesman said: “At approximately 4.45pm this afternoon Gardai were called to a report of a male armed with a firearm in the Poppintree area of Ballymun. Garda Armed Support Units and local units were dispatched to the scene.

“The area around the house was sealed off due to the discovery of a device in the house and the Defence Forces EOD team are currently at the scene.”

Commissioner Drew Harris said: “The Gardai involved showed great bravery in ensuring the safety of the public.”