Four members of a north inner city gang were in garda custody last night after a dramatic arrest operation in which two of the men were discovered in the boot of a Toyota taxi wearing balaclavas.
Heavily armed detectives pounced on the taxi and a Ford Mondeo, which were travelling in convoy at Harold Road in Stoneybatter, in Dublin's north inner city, at around 10.30am.
Two of the criminals were hiding in the taxi's boot and had a large knife in their possession, while the only occupant of the Mondeo was its driver. Neither car had been stolen.
"A number of items including a large-bladed knife and balaclavas were recovered during the searches," a garda spokesman said.
Wigs and ski masks were also seized by armed officers. All four were arrested and were being questioned last night in Mountjoy and Store Street Garda Stations.
The men are being questioned about conspiracy to commit a robbery and sources say that gardaí intercepted the vehicles yesterday morning shortly before this was due to happen.
