Gardai have recovered a gun after two men were rammed off a motorbike in a shocking incident in Tallaght.
It is understood that gardai suspect gunmen were on their way to carry out an act of violence in what has been an increasingly volatile gangland feud in the area over the last number of weeks.
Officers believe the weapon was being transported on the bike when the ramming incident occurred.
The ongoing feud has already seen multiple incidents - including a pipe bomb being brought into Tallaght garda station in May.
Read more: Two teen boys in hospital after motorcycle collides with car in Tallaght as firearm seized
Gardai rushed to the scene of the shocking collision in Fortunestown in Tallaght this afternoon after the motorbike was rammed off the road by another vehicle shortly before 4pm today.
After arriving at the scene gardai discovered a loaded firearm.
The car believed to have been used to ram the bike fled the scene and officers immediately mounted a search.
A car was later discovered burnt out and is believed to have been the vehicle used to ram the bike.
In a statement gardai said they were investigating the ramming incident as one of “endangerment.”
“Two male teenage youths were injured when a motorcycle they were travelling on collided with a vehicle.
“Both males were taken to hospital with injuries which are understood to be non-life threatening,” a Garda spokesperson said.
“A suspected firearm was recovered close to the scene of the incident and has been seized by Gardaí for examination.
“Investigations are ongoing at this time.”
The escalating gangland feud is believed to have started over a massive €1.7M cocaine debt.
During the course of the dispute a grave was also desecrated in May.
Officers fear the bitter dispute, has turned deeply personal and there are fears that lives could be lost.
There have been other serious incidents including one in which shots were fired at a man.
Following that incident shots were fired at a house in the Tallaght area- an incident which was filmed on CCTV - and the footage then spread online.
The footage shows the shooter arriving at the scene on an electric bike - stopping in front of the house and producing a handgun.
The masked figure is seen aiming the weapon at the house before he lets off a number of shots.
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