Gardai probing Islamist terror link to arson attack on Conor McGregor pub
The Irish Mirror has confirmed that the Garda's anti-terror unit is questioning a suspected jihadi over the attack on the Black Forge Inn in south Dublin at the end of last month.
The investigation into the July 25 attack in Drimnagh, south Dublin was being led by gardai from Crumlin station – but sources have confirmed to us that detectives from the Special Detective Unit (SDU) are now involved in the probe.
He was arrested on suspicion of the arson attack on Friday. Gardai have 24 hours, not including breaks, to quiz the suspect. The fire caused damage to the front panel of Conor McGregor's Black Forge Inn in Crumlin (Image: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin)
The SDU is the Garda's main anti-terror unit – and is the squad tasked with facing down Islamic extremist suspects here, as well as the more traditional role of tackling dissident republicans.
Gardai confirmed the SDU arrested a man over the arson attack in a statement to the Mirror this morning.
The statement said: 'Gardaí attached to An Garda Síochána's Special Detective Unit have arrested a male in connection with the investigation into Criminal Damage at a licensed premises in the South Dublin area on Friday, 25th of July 2025.
The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week
'The male, aged in his 20s, was arrested yesterday, 8th of August 2025 and remains detained at a Garda station in the Dublin region under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.
'An Garda Síochána has no further comment at this time.'
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