A man has died and a nine-year-old girl is injured after a horror shooting at a shopping centre in Ireland.
Authorities rushed to the Fairgreen Shopping Centre in County Carlow when gunshots were reported on a Sunday evening around 6:15pm. The chaos ensued as shoppers scrambled to safety.
Gardai confirmed that a ‘white Irish male’ died at the scene and it is believed his injuries were self-inflicted.
The body of the man remains at the scene and will not be removed until the area has been declared safe.
Ireland’s Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan has described it as a ‘really shocking incident’.
Police say the girl was treated for minor injuries by paramedics at the scene and she did not require hospitalisation.
They added that they are still determining the cause of her injuries.
Witnesses recounted that a man had been responsible for firing several shots inside the Tesco supermarket located within the shopping center before meeting his demise. A local council member narrated the terrifying scene of people fleeing the Carlow town shopping center amid the terrifying sound of gunfire.
A bomb squad, Gardai, ambulance and fire service remain on the scene with the premises fully evacuated.
A spokesperson for the Garda informed MailOnline that they were informed of the firearm discharge incident at the Fairgreen Shopping Centre in Carlow shortly after 6:15pm.
‘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.’
Ireland’s deputy premier, Simon Harris, said he was ‘deeply concerned’ to hear about the incident and was being kept briefed.
Mr Harris said: ‘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.’
The Tanaiste added: ‘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.’
Mr O’Callaghan said: ‘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.
‘I would appeal to anyone who has any information to speak to the gardai and help with their investigations in any way that they can.’
He added: ‘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 Siochana to investigate this incident fully.’
Local Fine Gael councillor Fergal Browne said people in the town had been left terrified
He said: ‘I think it is all under control now, it seems the worst is over.
‘People were obviously terrified, a bank holiday Sunday, going into town to do their shopping.
‘People ran from the centre crying and upset. There was a bunch of foreign students in the area, who could not believe they were caught up in the middle of all of it.
‘It’s a busy spot. We launched a photographic exhibition there on Friday night in the shopping centre.’
Mr Browne added: ‘There is lots of activity in the centre between people shopping and people working there, exhibitions.
‘You could not make it up. It’s very upsetting for everyone who was involved in it or who witnessed it.
‘I was down there in the last hour and it seems to have calmed down a good bit now.’
Mr Browne said he wanted to thank all of the emergency services who had attended the scene.
