Dublin Airport stabbing: Questioning suspended to allow suspect to receive medical attention

A man suspected of an unprovoked stabbing in Dublin Airport at the weekend, during which a man in his 50s was wounded, was expected to appear before the courts as early as Tuesday. However, questioning of the suspected was suspended for a period to allow him receive medical attention, which has slowed the interview process.

The suspect, originally from Africa but a long-term resident in the Republic, was detained at the scene of the knife attack outside Terminal 1 at about 11.30am on Sunday. Gardaí believe the man he stabbed was effectively selected at random and did not know his attacker.

The victim sustained multiple wounds, including to his neck and abdomen, and while his condition was described as serious, he was expected to survive. He was treated at the scene by paramedics on Sunday morning before being brought by ambulance to Beaumont Hospital, north Dublin.

Gardaí are trying to establish if the suspect was aggrieved because of a dispute he was having with State agencies over social welfare payments or other benefits, though the precise motive for the attack has still not been established.

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No evidence has emerged to suggest it was terror-related, though gardaí were continuing to check the man’s activities in Ireland and his background in his country of origin as part of the investigation into the violent incident.

Garda sources said the attacker was armed with a penknife and while he is an African migrant, he has lived in the Republic for over a decade, has secured status to stay indefinitely and has never come to the attention of gardaí as posing a security concern.

Though the victim was with a group of people outside the terminal building at the time of the attack, they emerged from the incident unscathed. One Garda source said there was relief the knife attack did not result in more than one person being stabbed.

Airport Police were on the scene almost immediately the attack occurred at around 11.30am. After the suspect had been held at the scene by the Airport Police he was then taken into custody by gardaí.

The suspect, who is in his 50s, was still being questioned on Monday night at a north Dublin Garda station. That legislation allows for him to be interviewed with up to 24 hours without charge. However, that 24-hour period can be suspended to allow for periods for rest and to undergo medical examinations or treatment.

The scene of the attack was sealed off for a period on Sunday and was examined by members of the Garda Technical Bureau. The area is well covered by CCTV and footage was being gathered for examination by investigating gardaí at Dublin Airport Garda station. However, while the scene was closed for a time, and part of an access road leading to the terminal was closed to facilitate gardaí and paramedics, there was no impact on flights.

It is understood members of the Airport Police were on the scene within about 90 seconds, detaining the suspect immediately before gardaí arrived and arrested him. Airport Fire Service paramedics attended to the victim of the incident before he was taken to hospital.

Garda Headquarters, Phoenix Park, Dublin, confirmed gardaí and other emergency services had responded to “a public order incident outside Terminal 1 at Dublin Airport” on Sunday. They added a man in his 50s had been hospital within a number of non-life-threatening injuries and a suspect, also in his 50s, was arrested.

Investigating gardaí, based at Dublin Airport Garda station, have appealed to anyone who witnessed the incident, or who has video footage, to come forward.