An estimated €250,000 was stolen in a robbery on a south Dublin post office this morning.
At least two members of staff at the post office were approached by the raiders when they arrived for work on the Upper Rathmines Road at around 8 a.m.
It is thought likely the raiders were on the premises before staff arrived, but initial investigations have not revealed any sign of a break-in.
Gardaí have not confirmed the amount stolen but say a "substantial amount of cash" was taken. They describe the raiders as youths but have been unable identify how they escaped.
Their were no injuries in the raid and detectives say there is no evidence yet of weapons being used.
Gardaí said it was too early to rule out a possible paramilitary link to the crime.
The gang claimed they were armed but didn't produce any weapons," Superintendent Frank Moore, who is leading the investigation, said this afternoon. "They roughed up the staff a bit but there were no physical injuries."
Gardaí have appealed for help from witnesses who were in the Upper Rathmines Road area between 7.30 a.m. and 9.00 a.m. this morning.
Anybody with information is asked to contact the investigation's incident room at Terenure Garda Station at (01) 666 6712 or (01) 666 67123.