Gardaí were last night continuing to question two men in connection with an attempted armed bank robbery in Tallaght, Dublin, yesterday morning.
The men tried to overpower a porter at the Bank of Ireland in Main Street, Tallaght village, at around 7.30am.
It is understood the men forced their way into the bank as the porter was arriving for work. However, he managed to raise the alarm. An emergency call was relayed on a Garda radio system, and gardaí rushed to the scene.
Four gardaí, including two female officers and a probationary garda, tackled the men and arrested them. One threatened a female garda with a handgun, and knocked her to the ground. However, she pursued him and arrested him.
The other man, who was armed with a hammer, tried to evade gardaí by breaking into a house in Main Street. However, he also was arrested.
Three patrol cars and the Garda helicopter were involved in yesterday's operation.
The two men, aged 23 and 33, were brought for questioning to Tallaght Garda station, where they were still being questioned last night under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act.
They can be held for questioning for up to 72 hours, at which point they must be either released or charged.
