Man held and van seized after series of overnight ramming incidents at Government Buildings, Áras and Custom House

Entrances to Government Buildings and Leinster House in central Dublin have been sealed off on Friday morning as gardaí deal with a suspected attack on three sets of gates on the Merrion Street side of the complex.

The three gates – at the entrance to the Department of the Taoiseach on Merrion Street; an entrance beside the Attorney General’s office; and the Merrion Lawn entrance to Leinster House – where there is a car park for TDs and Senators – appear to have been rammed by a van in the early hours of the morning.

A suspect (40s) was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol following the incident at 2.30am. He was later rearrested on suspicion of criminal damage. Photographs circulating on social media showed a damaged white van parked in the area and a white van subsequently being removed by the Garda.

Gardaí are also investigating other overnight ramming incidents at Áras an Uachtaráin in the Phoenix Park and at the Custom House in Dublin, home to the Department of Housing. All of the incidents are believed to be connected.

Read more: The Irish Times