Dundalk attacks: Gardai confirm terror ‘is a line of inquiry’ but stress that motive remains unclear

From the Irish Independent

GARDAI investigating a string of attacks in Louth this morning have said that terrorism “is a line of inquiry” – but have stressed that the attacker’s motive remains unknown.

An 18-year-old Egyptian man is being questioned on suspicion of murder following the incidents in Dundalk which left a young Japanese man dead, and two young Irishmen injured. Among the lines being investigated is that the young man had recently been refused asylum in the UK – but is in unclear how he may have subsequently entered Ireland or travelled to Dundalk. He’s Egyptian! There is no war going on in Egypt from which to seek ‘asylum’. Unless he is a Coptic or Othodox Christian, who are oppressed, but this is highly unlikely behaviour for that group.

At a press conference this afternoon, Chief Superintendent Christy Mangan officially confirmed that terrorism is one line of inquiry into three separate attacks which occurred within less than 60 minutes around 9am today.

“A terror attack is a line of inquiry, it’s certainly a line that we would look at,” he said.“We’re very interested to know why was he in Dundalk, why would he come here, what’s the reason, what’s the connection,”

He further stressed, however, that the motive for the attack on “an innocent bystander going about their work” was unclear. He added that the attack “certainly would appear to be random and unprovoked” and it appeared that the Egyptian man had acted alone.

The victim, who was aged 24 and from Japan, was attacked on Avenue Road in the town and stabbed in the back. He died at the scene. Two other Irish men were subsequently attacked at two other locations in the town, the Inner Relief Road and Seatown. Their injuries are not life-threatening.