Gardaí are investigating an attempted raid on an An Post van in Co Cavan this morning.
The van travelling from the post centre in Cavan was forced to stop on the N3 near Belturbet at about 7.25am when the road was blocked by a lorry parked across the roadway.
A gang in the lorry forced the driver to drive his van up a nearby laneway and then blocked off the laneway with the lorry.
They demanded that the driver hand over money. There was no money in the van as An Post vehicles do not carry cash, the company said.
The gang smashed windows in the van using hammers and caused considerable damage. They poured petrol on the vehicle, but did not set it alight.
They removed trays and bags of mail and then set fire to their own van before fleeing.
An Post confirmed the attempted raid and said mail from Ballyhaise, and some for Belturbet, Ballyconnell and Swanlinbar was missing.