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Nine arrested after looters smash digger into snow-bound Lidl supermarket

Incident takes places as the city is hit with its worst snowstorm in decades 

Saturday 03 March 2018 01:36 GMT
Video shows aftermath of Lidl following stolen digger attack

Nine people have been arrested after a digger smashed into a Lidl supermarket in Dublin.

The heavy-duty industrial vehicle was used to pull down the supermarket’s wall amid the city’s worst snowstorm in decades, video on social media and state broadcaster RTE appeared to show.

Another video, posted online by the Irish Independent newspaper, purported to show people walking away from the back of the store carrying merchandise.

Gardai confirmed they attended a number of incidents in the Tallaght district of Dublin and that nine people have been arrested. A Centra store in Jobstown was also damaged.

It is understood that the Defence Forces assisted gardai getting to the scene.

Three fire engines from Dublin Fire Brigade responded to reports of a fire at a supermarket on Friday night but no blaze was found.

Dublin Fire Brigade tweeted: “We’ve left the scene of a supermarket in #Fortunestown #Citywest, no fire found. Gardai are attending the incident.”

Local Labour Party councillor Martina Genockey condemned the behaviour of those involved and said it did not represent the people of Tallaght.

The local councillor claimed three stores were looted in the area.

“This type of behaviour has put a needless amount of pressure on our emergency services who have been trying to keep our community safe throughout Storm Emma,” Ms Genockey said.

Dublin South-West TD Colm Brophy said: “I utterly condemn this mindless criminal behaviour.”

Fianna Fail TD John Lahart said he was lost for words by what he described as the appalling events in his constituency.

“Lives could have been put at risk through this mindless vandalism and criminality,” Mr Lahart said.

In a statement, Lidl said: “We are aware of the very serious incident at our Fortunestown Lane store this evening.

“As the store was closed when this incident occurred we can confirm no member of our team has been injured.

“Given that the incident is now the subject of a criminal investigation we are not in a position to comment further at this time.”

Agencies contributed to this report

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