Cops launch ‘terror’ probe after ‘Egyptian man armed with a knife and pole kills one and injures two others in separate attacks’

POLICE say terrorism is one line of inquiry after a knife rampage left one man dead and two wounded in Ireland.

Armed cops arrested an 18-year-old suspect from Egypt who was said to be wielding a metal fence post after the apparently random series of attacks in Dundalk, near the border with Northern Ireland.

One victim, a 24-year-old Japanese man who had lived in Ireland for a year, died at the scene.

Two Irish men were also injured in separate attacks including one who was reportedly hit over the head with a fencing post.

As investigators scoured the scene for evidence today, detectives said they could not rule out terrorism as a potential motive for the apparently “random and unprovoked” frenzy.

Supt Christy Mangan said: “It’s certainly a line that we would look at.”

Detectives confirmed the suspect is an 18-year-old Egyptian national who was in contact with officers on New Year’s Day in relation to his immigration status.

It is believed he was trying to claim asylum or residency in the country.

Supt Mangan said: “We will endeavour to establish the suspect’s background… We’re very interested to know why was he in Dundalk, who he was staying with.”

He added officers believe one suspect acting alone attacked the three victims at random at three sites in the town over 40 minutes beginning shortly before 9am.

Three scenes have been preserved for technical examination at Avenue Road, Inner Relief Road and Seatown.

Supt Mangan said investigators “haven’t established a motive for the murder or the two subsequent attacks”.

One knife was recovered but “there is a distinct possibility” more than one weapon was used, he added.

Police have appealed for witnesses.

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