Students were left terrified after a mob of youths wearing balaclavas and brandishing sticks showed up at a secondary school, it's been claimed.
The incident happened at the the De La Salle College in Churchtown, south Dublin on Monday afternoon.
The gang were suspected to be looking for a student who attended the school but dispersed before gardai arrived.
A worried mother revealed how one of her sons witnessed the entire event, while her other two children were rushed back into a classroom by anxious teachers.
She told The Irish Sun: "The school finished and two of them were kept inside in their classes - but one of them came out as normal and wandered into a situation where these kids on bikes with weapons - sticks - were approaching the school on bikes.
"He said they had black balaclavas on and black tracksuits. The gardai were called and then the armed response team turned up."
Schoolboy airlifted to Dublin hospital after hand 'caught in chain of tricycle'
The concerned mum added that her other child "was rounded up" with their year group and put in a classroom.
She said: "When my youngest came in and told me what he had seen... I was just shocked. Absolutely shocked that it could have happened."
The Principal of De La Salle College said: "I understand that the incident occurred in the locality after school hours.
"Most of our students had left for home, those remaining were requested to stay in the school pending clarification from supervising staff that the youths had dispersed.
School principal who stole €200,000 is jailed after original suspended sentence deemed too lenient
"Gardai were alerted and subsequently informed us that the youths in question were no longer present in the area."
A garda spokesperson said: "Gardaí are aware of an incident that occurred on Upper Churchtown Road, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14 on the 13 of May 2019 at approximately 3.30pm.
"A group of youths were allegedly gathered outside a school. On arrival no youths present."
