Man arrested following Cork airport rampage
A man is in custody in Cork this evening following a series of incidents which saw a garda slashed in the face and a stolen vehicle driven on the apron at the city's airport.
Eyewitnesses said the series of events began in the city centre at around 5pm this evening, when the garda was slashed in the face with a knife by a man in his 40s.
The suspect subsequently stole the garda's Traffic Corps jeep and drove it to the airport at high speed, forcing shoppers and motorists to flee in terror.
The vehicle is believed to have been driven through security gates onto the airfield. A fire truck was then stolen and driven around the apron, ramming a number of garda cars before coming to a halt beside a plane.
The incident unfolded in front of startled passengers who watched the drama from inside the terminal building.
Members of the garda's armed Regional Support Unit at the scene finally subdued the driver, using tasers in the process, and he was taken into custody. He is being held under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.
An investigation into the incident is underway.
The wounded officer's injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.
