Police: One shot dead at Dublin boxing weigh-in

A picture shows police tape cordoning off the Regency Airport Hotel in Dublin on February 5, 2016 following a shooting incident.
One man has died and two others are injured after a shooting incident at a hotel in Dublin. The attack happened while a boxing tournament weigh-in was going on at the Regency Airport Hotel. Around 300 people were attending the event.
/ AFP / CAROLINE QUINN

One man was killed and two others injured on Friday when gunmen opened fire on boxing fans at a weigh-in at a Dublin hotel, Irish police said.

The attack was carried out by three men apparently armed with AK-47 assault rifles and dressed in police-style uniforms, according to Irish media reports.

Police said they were called to the Regency Hotel in north Dublin at around 2:30 pm (1430 GMT) where they found three injured men, all in their 20s or 30s.

“One of these men was subsequently pronounced dead,” a statement said.

“Two others were removed to The Mater and Beaumont hospitals with possible gunshot wounds.”

Dublin Fire Brigade said two fire engines and two ambulances were at the scene.

Boxers were weighing-in ahead of Saturday’s “Clash of the Clans” bout at the city’s National Stadium.

Fighters on the bill include Dublin boxer Jamie Kavanagh, who will fight for the WBO European lightweight title against Portuguese Antonio Joao Bento.

Kavanagh, whose father was killed in a suspected gangland shooting in Spain in 2014, was not one of the victims, tweeting: “Anyone asking I’m OK! Thanks you for asking. I was lucky today is all I can say”.

A video posted online appeared to show the moment the gunmen opened fire, sending fans, boxers and officials fleeing for the exit.

A young voice can be heard to say “daddy help me”, followed by a man’s voice responding “come with me”.