Bmw burnt out following carjacking

A LARGE scale garda operation is underway in north Mayo following a carjacking at a filling station in Ballina late last night (Tuesday).

A male motorist was filling diesel at the Topaz premises on the Foxford Road, Ballina, at around five minutes to midnight when a man approached and threatened both himself and his passenger.

The attacker then leapt into the BMW 5-Series car and made off in the direction of Ballina.

However, before he reached the town he swung left beneath what is known locally as the 'Iron bridge'.

The stolen car was discovered burnt out by gardaí later about five miles away in the townland of Tullysleva, Knockmore. There was no sign of the carjacker.

Gardaí (096-21422) are asking the public for assistance in their investigations.

The carjacker is described as being approximately 5 feet 9 inches in height, of slim build, and aged in his early 20s. He was wearing a dark hoodie top and partially covered his face with a scarf.

Although the Topaz station has reopened for business, part of the forecourt where the carjacking incident took place has been sealed off as gardaí conduct a technical investigation.