A driver was arrested early Friday morning in Dublin after crashing a van into gates outside significant government buildings, including the official residence of Ireland’s president, the prime minister’s offices, and the building housing the parliament, according to police reports.
The incidents unfolded around 2 a.m. when government offices were closed, and fortunately, no injuries were reported. The series of events began when the van rammed into the fence outside the residence of President Michael Higgins. Despite the impact, the van did not enter the premises. The driver then traveled approximately 3 miles (5 kilometers) to central Dublin, where the van struck several gates outside two other government buildings.
The damage was significant, with the iron fence outside the offices of Prime Minister Simon Harris being bent inward and the gate at the attorney general’s office being knocked off its hinges.
Louise O’Reilly, a member of parliament for the Sinn Féin party, expressed concern over the security lapses, questioning how the attacks could occur at multiple locations. “It’s hard to understand how someone was able to carry out these attacks in several locations in this manner,” O’Reilly told national broadcaster RTE. “We will be looking to the gardaí to provide us with information on how this could have unfolded and how someone was able to travel to three separate locations in Dublin city before being apprehended.”
The driver, in his 40s, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of driving offenses. The white van was towed from the location as part of the ongoing investigation. Detectives have ruled out terrorism as a motive for the incident.
