Carlow shooting: Gunman opens fire in shopping centre before turning gun on himself

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A gunman opened fire in a busy shopping centre yesterday as terrified customers ran for their lives – before he turned the gun on himself.
Sources say the man, who was white and Irish, fired several shots from a shotgun in the Fairgreen Centre in Carlow Town – before taking his own life. Gardai were trying to identify the dead man last night – but they do not believe he was involved in either terrorism or gangland violence. However, sources did say the man who gardai suspect it is was known to officers.
And army bomb experts were late last night still examining a suspicious device found on the man's body. Sources say at least one bottle appears to have been strapped to him.
Gardai who rushed to the scene as the incident unfolded around 6.15pm saw the suspicious item on the man's body and withdrew for their own safety. They also called in the Defence Forces' bomb squad – or EOD unit – who examined the scene last night.
(Image: Niall Carson/PA Wire)
And it also emerged that gardai sealed off a house in another rural part of Leinster. It's understood gardai were close to identifying the man last night and believe the house was connected to him.
Sources say gardai were last night trying to establish a motive for the horror incident – in which a nine-year-old girl was injured as she and others ran to safety when the shooting started at around 6.15pm. It's understood the man calmly walked into the shopping centre and started firing a number of shots from a shotgun in the air.
The centre was packed at the time and dozens of people ran for their lives. A nine-year-old girl who was one of the shoppers trying to escape suffered a slight injury in the drama. She was assessed at the scene and did not require hospitalisation.
Gardai rushed to the scene and the site was evacuated. Officers then found the body of the man in the centre.
(Image: Niall Carson/PA Wire)
It is understood gardai believe the man shot himself. The area was still sealed off last night as gardai investigated the shock incident. But gardai did confirm the dead man was Irish and white.
The force said in a statement: "Shortly after 6:15pm, gardaí were alerted following reports of a firearm discharge at Fairgreen Shopping Centre, Carlow. An Garda Síochána are currently at the scene, with the shopping centre and car park cordoned off. The cordon will remain in place overnight.
"A white Irish adult male is deceased at the scene. The Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team has been requested to attend.
"A female juvenile received treatment from paramedics following the incident but did not require hospital care. It's undetermined at this time as to how those injuries were sustained.
"Anyone who may have recorded footage of the incident is urged not to share it on social media platforms or messaging apps, but instead to provide it to Gardaí at Carlow Garda Station. Anyone with information is asked to contact Carlow Garda Station at 059-9136620 or the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111. Investigations are ongoing."
Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan has expressed his solidarity with those impacted by a serious incident in Carlow. "This was a really shocking incident. My thoughts are with everyone affected by the shooting and the community and families impacted including those working at the scene," he said.
"I would appeal to anyone who has any information to speak to the gardaí and help with their investigations in any way that they can. This is something we never want or expect to happen in our communities. Gun violence is very rare in Ireland, and I am determined that will remain the case. The area in Carlow is safe. We must now allow An Garda Síochána to investigate this incident fully."
And Tánaiste Simon Harris, who is minister for Defence as well as Foreign Affairs last night praised the Defence Forces and gardai. He said: "I am deeply concerned to hear about the incident that has taken place in Carlow tonight and have been kept briefed.
"I understand a young child has been hurt and I join with people across our country in thinking of them and their family tonight. I am also thinking of all those who witnessed this situation and the awful shock and upset it must have caused them. I know their families and communities will rally to support them.
"I am grateful to our emergency services for their work and response. This is a live Garda Investigation with the support of members of the Army Bomb Disposal Unit.
"I have been in touch with the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, Lieutenant General Rossa Mulcahy, in relation to this incident and the assistance our Defence Forces are providing. It's important now that our Gardai can carry out this investigation thoroughly."
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