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Man shot dead in Dublin as police search for missing woman believed to have been abducted

<em>The man was shot dead in Dublin as police searched for missing woman Jastine Valdez (Twitter/PA)</em>
The man was shot dead in Dublin as police searched for missing woman Jastine Valdez (Twitter/PA)

The search for a missing 24-year-old woman continues following the death of a man during a shooting involving police in Dublin.

Jastine Valdez, from Enniskerry in the county but originally from the Philippines and studying in Ireland, was last seen when she left her home on Saturday afternoon.

Following reports of a woman being forced into a car in Co Wicklow, Gardai said they ‘interacted’ with the driver of a vehicle, thought to be aged 40, at around 8pm on Sunday evening in the Cherrywood business district in the south of the Irish capital and fired a weapon.

A Garda statement said: ‘Gardai investigating the disappearance of Jastine Valdez interacted with the driver of a vehicle at approximately 8pm this evening the 20th May 2018 in the Cherrywood area of Dublin.

‘An official Garda firearm was discharged.’

A Garda helicopter, cars, support units, and ambulances were at the scene of the shooting at the business park.

The force is still searching for Ms Valdez.

A police watchdog, the Garda Siochana Ombudsman’s Commission, is investigating the shooting and confirmed that the man had died.

Irish broadcaster RTE said the dead man was armed with a knife and was a father-of-two from the Wicklow area.

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Photographer Peter Varga said the scene was under armed guard.

He said: ‘It is a huge car park between the Dell building and the Luas track, there is a huge space.

‘I also saw some people obviously in shock coming out of the scene with one policeman.

‘The people were in shock and crying, there were four males and one female.’

<em>Emergency services congregated at the scene following the shooting (PA)</em>
Emergency services congregated at the scene following the shooting (PA)
<em>Emergency services next to a Nissan Qashqai (centre) at a business park in Cherrywood (PA)</em>
Emergency services next to a Nissan Qashqai (centre) at a business park in Cherrywood (PA)

Mr Varga said a vehicle police had been pursuing, a Nissan Qashqai, was abandoned at the scene of the shooting with its windows down.

A manhunt had been under way for the man whom Gardai were told was seen forcing Ms Valdez into his car in Enniskerry, Co Wicklow.

Earlier, the Garda said it was extremely concerned for Ms Valdez’s safety.

A Garda statement said she normally regularly contacted her family using social media.

Gardai told RTE she was on her way home to Enniskerry when the suspected abduction happened.

They added: ‘We are looking at that at the moment, trying to clarify her last movements on CCTV and taking statements from witnesses.

‘We have a large investigation team working on it.’

Jastine is around 5ft, of slight build with long black hair and brown eyes. When last seen she was wearing a dark coloured jacket, white T-shirt, grey leggings and runners.