FIVE MEN, including two teenagers, were being questioned last night after gardaí foiled what they suspect was a gangland murder attempt.
One of the men under arrest had survived an attempt on his life earlier this year. Another suspect is a key player in the north Dublin drugs scene.
Gardaí believe the five suspects were planning to shoot a major drug dealer from Dublin who is now living in Co Kildare.
Gardaí received intelligence about the suspected murder bid and the gang was put under surveillance by the Organised Crime Unit. Armed members of the unit moved in on three cars in Celbridge, Co Kildare, on Monday evening and arrested the men there and in a related operation in Lucan.
A loaded handgun was found and a number of properties were also searched in a follow-up operation.
The suspects, aged 18, 19, 28, 30 and 46 and from north Dublin, were arrested under section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act. Two of the men are being detained at Newbridge Garda station, two in Lucan and one in Leixlip.
They can be held for up to 72 hours without charge.
Detectives are working on the theory that a Dubliner living in Co Kildare was about to be shot by the men. The suspected target, originally from Dublin’s north inner city, is in his 30s,and has been supplying large quantities of cannabis to gangs in the midlands, particularly in Co Laois and Co Offaly.
Gardaí are trying to establish if the men arrested on Monday evening were intent on killing the Kildare-based criminal because they believe he was involved in some way in the disappearance of two associates.
However, gardaí are also trying to determine if four of the men were setting up the fifth man in the group to be shot when gardaí moved in.