LATEST: Blanchardstown Shopping Centre evacuated amid reports of armed man in the area

Gardaí are responding to incident at Blanchardstown Shopping Centre with people being prevented from entering shopping centre reportedly due to presence of armed individual inside.

Theere are reports that the incident could be connected to a 19-year-old reported missing from Ennis, Co Clare earlier today who had been spotted in the centre.

Gardaí now say the centre has not been evacuated but the search is continuing.

The young man is 1.8m tall (6ft), of slim build with black hair. He wears a tooth brace on his upper teeth. When last seen he was wearing a grey hoodie top and grey spot jacket. His family are anxious that he make contact.

A number of garda units have responded to an incident with with Armed Support Garda reinforcements arriving and the Garda helicopter overhead...

The exact circumstances of the developing situation remain unclear and gardaí said they could not comment for “operational reasons”.
It is understood people are being prevented from entering the centre due to the presence of an armed individual but the details have not been confirmed.

An eye witness said there were three to four armed gardaí at all the shopping centre exits and shoppers were leaving the centre calmy at around 6.30pm. There was no sense of panic, he said.
There are also several garda cars on approach routes to the centre.

Bus routes around the centre have also been affected.