A woman suspected to have ordered an acid attack on another woman believed to have been caught up in a love triangle has been arrested.

The savage assault with acid was carried out against a 32-year-old Chinese woman in south Dublin last December.

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Extra.ie can now reveal that gardai investigating the horror attack have arrested the woman who they suspect ordered the shocking crime.

Detectives are understood to be investigating whether the attack was as a result of a love triangle, with both the victim and the woman who has been questioned involved with the same man.

The attack, which could potentially leave the victim permanently disfigured, took place in an upmarket suburb of Dublin as the victim walked home from her workplace.

She received treatment at both St Vincent’s Hospital and the Eye and Ear Hospital in Dublin for serious burns to her eyes and face. In the immediate aftermath of the targeted attack – which was a worrying development for locals at the time given the rise in the number acid attacks in the UK – gardaí sought information about a lone male they suspected of carrying out the attack.

He was described as heavy-set and wearing dark clothing.

Sources last night confirmed to Extra.ie that another Chinese woman – whose husband knew the victim – was arrested in relation to the shocking crime.

The Chinese woman, understood to be in her 30s, was arrested by gardaí on September 13, and was questioned on suspicion of hiring a man to throw acid in the face of another woman.

She was arrested under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act at 7am and was released after being quizzed for several hours.

Investigating detectives have not yet been able to track down the man they believe was hired to carry out the attack but sources say they believe he is also a Chinese national.

The victim was in hospital for several weeks after the attack.

Investigators took a statement from her at her hospital bed days after the incident.

Extra.ie previously revealed gardaí searched the chief suspect’s home in Dublin, and electronic equipment was seized.