ALERT: Garda manhunt continuing following theft of car in Dublin with baby girl inside

A garda manhunt is continuing in Dublin following a car-jacking incident which resulted in the issuing of a Child Rescue Ireland alert.

The alarm was raised shortly before 2pm on Monday after a Nissan Qashqui car, with a five-month baby girl in the back seat, was stolen from Mountjoy Square.

A major gardai investigation was immediately launched and a CRI alert was issued at 4pm on Monday. While the car and baby were located a short time later, gardai have not located the man who is suspected of taking the vehicle.

"The suspect in this case is best described, at this stage, as a white middle-aged male wearing dark clothing and a baseball cap," said Superintendent Liam Geraghty of the Garda Press Office during a press briefing on Monday evening.

An incident room has been established at Mountjoy garda station in Dublin and investigating gardai have begin the process of obtaining and viewing CCTV from the area.

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According to gardai, there is no known connection between the suspect and occupants of the Nissan Qashqui. "To the best of our knowledge there's no connection between the suspect and the family," said Supt Geraghty.

Gardaí are are currently harvesting CCTV footage from the area and an incident room has been established in Mountjoy Garda Station.