Car fire in Dublin city centre as locals report sudden explosion
A car caught fire in Dublin city centre last night, with witnesses in the area reporting an explosion.
The incident took place at approximately 11pm on Long Lane, near the Meath Community Service Hospital, minutes away from St Stephen's Green. Users on social media described feeling and hearing an explosion.
Photographer Alan Bennett said he was around the corner when he "heard and felt an explosion."
"I reached Long Lane about 15 seconds later to see a car on fire," he said.
"[There were] a couple of smaller explosions over the next few minutes as more of the car burned."
He said there were three fire engines, two ambulances and a number of garda vehicles attending the scene, the first of which arrived within minutes.
"I am in no doubt there was an explosion," he said.
Eavan Murray, a reporter at the Irish Sun, tweeted "There was an explosion just yards from our office tonight. Blast shook our windows."
Her colleague Enda Bolger tweeted: "Heard and felt the reverberations in the office."
There had been no official statement by Gardaí or the Fire service at the time of writing.
