05/11/2009

Thousands Of Samurai Swords Seized In Dublin

Some 7,000 swords have been seized in Dublin along with a variety of other weaponry.

Gardai revealed today that an operation carried out by its members based in the Bridewell Garda Station in the north inner city area of Dublin seized approximately 7,000 swords of different length and specification, many of which are in the Japanese samurai style, along with a number of air rifles.

According to this morning's reports from Gardai, the operation began on Monday when a number of searches were carried out in different premises in the inner Dublin area.

Members from the Crime Prevention Unit assisted by the District Detective Unit, Divisional Crime Task Force, and the Neighbourhood Policing Unit conducted the searchers.

Two males aged in their 20's were interviewed in relation to the seizure at Bridewell Garda Station and have since been released without charge, pending a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

A spokesman for Minister of Justice Dermot Ahern said: 'The Minister has been on record in recent years about the dangers posed by samurai swords. They have been used with very damaging effect on our streets. Because of that he introduced legislation banning the swords.

"The seizure of such a vast quantity of samurai swords should reduce significantly any threat these swords might have proved to the public."

(DW/KMcA)

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