Nine arrested after Lidl store is dramatically looted and damaged

Terrifying scenes occurred at Fortunestown Lane in the Citywest area of Dublin City last night.

A Lidl store was dramatically looted and destroyed at approximately 7pm, Friday March 2. Videos shared on social media even showed construction machinery being used to break down the roof of the building, causing substantial damage. Another video being widely shared on Twitter showed several young men driving a digger from the location.

Lidl Citywest looting. Yeah, bring your kids, give them some good advice on life skills #scumbags #looting #dublin pic.twitter.com/9Kj1qDjGUq

— Denis (@46Flynn) March 2, 2018

Cannot believe the thuggish behaviour in #Lidl tonight. These people absolutely deserve to get caught. Horrendous pic.twitter.com/5d2234qrVQ

— Anita O'Brien (@Anita_IsMyName) March 2, 2018

Since then, the Garda units deployed to the scene last night in the Tallaght district can confirm they made nine arrests both for the Lidl store looting and damage to a second property in Jobstown. The below statement was released.

Gardai have made nine arrests following the Tallaght Lidl looting and destruction of the shop with a digger. pic.twitter.com/oprvLIDTSj

— Mark Tighe (@marktigheST) March 2, 2018

Eight men are due in court this morning in connection with the looting of a Lidl store in Dublin last night. The men range in age from 24 to 47, and have been charged with various offences including theft, burglary and trespassing for last night's incident. In a statement issued to Her yesterday evening, Lidl said: "We are aware of the very serious incident at our Fortunestown Lane store this evening. "Given that the incident is now the subject of a criminal investigation we are not in a position to comment further at this time." A later statement added: "As our store on Fortunestown Lane was closed when the incident occurred this evening, we can confirm no member of our team has been injured." Lidl then released this statement on social media.

Please see below statement in relation to the incident at our branch at Fortunestown Lane, Dublin pic.twitter.com/jl8PD57Vcx

— Lidl Ireland (@lidl_ireland) March 2, 2018

More to follow.