Gardaí in Cork have arrested an armed man who tried to ram a plane in a stolen fire service vehicle at Cork airport this afternoon.

The man, who is in his 40s, had earlier attacked a garda in Cork city centre and slashed him in the face with a knife before stealing a Garda Traffic Corps 4x4 and driving to Cork airport where he rammed through the perimeter fence.

The man then stole an airport fire service vehicle and rammed three other vehicles before trying to ram a parked plane. It is not clear if the plane he attempted to ram was a commercial passenger jet.

A large number of gardaí, including armed members of the regional support unit, arrested the man at the airport under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act and also seized a 12 inch knife.

He is being questioned at Togher Garda station.

There are no reports of any shots being fired. The injured garda has been taken to hospital for treatment to his injuries which are not thought to be life-threatening.