Gardaí say they are keeping an open mind on a possible motive for an arson attack which resulted in a member of the public having to receive hospital treatment and caused extensive damage to the waiting area of Bandon Garda station in west Cork.
The incident happened shortly after 11pm on Wednesday, when a man entered the foyer of the Garda station on Weir Street and threw a Molotov cocktail-type device at a hatch in a counter dividing the public waiting area.
The glass container, complete with a petrol-soaked rag, smashed against the aluminium and glass hatch, which was closed at the time, and burst into flames as the man fled the building.
A man in his 30s was in the waiting area at the time and suffered smoke inhalation. Sgt Colin Collins, who was on duty, managed to get the man to safety.
Sgt Collins and a number of other officers brought the fire under control using fire extinguishers, but the blaze caused some damage to the public waiting area.
The man was brought to Cork University Hospital, where he was treated for smoke inhalation. He was detained overnight for monitoring before being discharged yesterday afternoon.
Yesterday Insp Dan Keane of Bandon Garda station praised the actions of the officers, while appealing to the public for assistance. "This was a very sinister attack and one which could easily have ended in tragedy. We're very anxious to try and locate whoever is responsible so we would appeal to anyone who noticed any unusual activity in the vicinity of the Garda station to contact us," he said.
Insp Keane said gardaí were particularly anxious to speak to anyone who was in the Weir Street, South Main Street or McSwiney Quay areas of Bandon between 10.45pm and 11.15pm on Wednesday.
Gardaí yesterday carried out a forensic examination of the scene.