Security alert outside Leinster House

A man who obstructed traffic by standing on the roof of a white van outside Leinster House has been taken away by gardaí.

The man,  stood on top of the van outside Kildare Street with a plastic bottle in his hand containing a yellow coloured liquid.

Eye witnesses said he poured the liquid on the van, while others said he doused himself in the liquid.There was a strong smell of petrol.

The fire brigade arrived at the scene as gardaí, who had cordoned off the area, were speaking to the man.

At 4.05pm, he climbed down from the roof and was surrounded by gardaí.

He was handcuffed and driven away in a Garda car. A fireman hosed down the road and van.

A Garda spokesman said the man, who is a foreign national, is being held at Pearse Street Garda station.