Updated 07.40am

THREE TOURISTS WERE targeted in a violent robbery in Swords, Dublin, last night and gardaí are now appealing for witnesses.

The three people, a man and a woman in their 20s and a woman in her 60s, were walking in Town Park near the castle at 8.45pm last night.

They were approached by a group of youths, both girls and boys, who attacked them and stole a camera bag. The man and one of the women were assaulted. He was taken to Beaumont Hospital by ambulance with a shoulder injury. The woman did not go to hospital.

The tourists had only arrived in Dublin airport yesterday morning from the USA and were planning to tour Ireland for the next 10 days.

A source says they believe a knife was produced in the attack.

“The young female’s bag was taken off her, but not her camera as she was holding it, but the bag was a ‘handbag’ as such, in that it contained the young lady’s wallet, cards, phone and what I gather was the majority of their spending money. The male tourist tried to retrieve the bag and was assaulted.”

The tourists were said to be extremely shocked at what had happened and visibly upset.

It is understood that this incident will cause extreme difficulty to their travel plans around Ireland, as they had hired a car and the injured male was supposed to be the driver of the hire car for their holiday.

Gardaí are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed this incident or to witnesses who may have been in Town Park between 6pm and 8.45pm to contact Swords Garda Station on 01 6664700, The Garda Confidential Telephone Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.

First published 3 May 19.55pm