Gardaí are searching for three men in Co Westmeath following a robbery at a filling station on the Mullingar bypass this morning.
Five men armed with iron bars raided the station at 4.20am and threatened a staff member before making off with cash in a getaway car.
The raiders were stopped by a Garda patrol car in Kinnegad a short time later. Two suspects were arrested and the cash was recovered.
A search involving the Garda helicopter is now underway for the three remaining suspects.
Gardaí are asking the public not to approach the men but to contact Mullingar Garda station on (044) 9384000 with any information.
