Truck, £1m of computer parts missing after hijack

A 24-foot truck carrying £1 million worth of computer components is missing after being hijacked in Dublin yesterday morning. The driver was kid napped at the scene, on Dublin's Malahide Road, and was later found tied to a wall near Roundwood, Co Wicklow.

The red Renault truck was stopped by an armed man, accompanied by two others, at the junction of the Malahide Road and Killester Avenue at about 7 a.m. The driver was bundled into a blue Hiace van, and taken away by one of the gang. He was driven around for some time, before being tied with a plastic cable to a wall near Roundwood, Co Wicklow.

He was discovered there by a passer-by two hours later, "shaken but uninjured". He was taken to Roundwood Garda station at 11.30 a.m.

The computer components were manufactured in Singapore, and were in 16 pallets, each marked "Maxtor". Maxtor Ireland Ltd is a company based in Bray, Co Wicklow, and it is believed the components were being taken there.

Neither components nor truck have been located, despite an extensive Garda search, which has included air support.

The truck has the logo "MSAS Cassin International" along its sides. Its registration number is 92D37506.

The armed gang member who had a handgun, was 6 ft, "about 32", of very heavy build, with "tight" brown hair. He was wearing a blue-and-white sports top, blue jeans, white runners and spoke with a Dublin accent.

Another of the gang is described as "overweight", 5 ft 5 in and in his mid 3Os. He wore a blue overall and didn't speak. The third gang member was the smallest. He was "about 40", wore a blond wig, and blue overalls.

Gardai at Clontarf are handling the investigation.