A MAN in his 30s who was stabbed in the hand with a syringe during an attempted robbery in a city centre shop in Dublin on Saturday night remained in a serious condition in hospital yesterday.
A man arrested at the scene also remained in hospital yesterday evening for treatment for a leg injury sustained in the incident.
Store supervisor Jahan Zaib Butt was stabbed in the hand with a syringe during the raid at about 10pm after a man entered the Spar shop on James’s Street and threatened the two male staff.
Mr Butt is understood to have tackled the man, sustaining the injury in the ensuing struggle. He later collapsed and was taken to St James’s Hospital. It is not thought his condition is directly connected with the stabbing and may be due to an underlying medical issue.
The suspect was also taken to St James’s Hospital on Saturday. He is being detained under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.
The shop, across the road from the hospital, was open for business yesterday. A member of staff said they had no comment to make.
In a statement released yesterday, Spar Ireland said it provided guidance on appropriate security procedures in its stores.
“The safety of employees is of paramount importance and Spar provides guidance to its independent retailers to put in place the appropriate security . . . to prioritise the safety of store staff,” it stated. “At this time our main concern is the wellbeing of Jahan Zaib Butt and our thoughts are with his family and friends.”