A huge manhunt is under way as gardaí search for the Swedish driver of a car that crashed when it took a wrong turn while on route to carry out a ‘hit’ ordered by a feuding gang.

The Armed Support Unit (ASU) and Emergency Response Unit (ERU) have been drafted in as the search for man – who has been identified by gardaí – intensified last night.

All units are also on ‘vigilant alert’ for the man who was driving the car in which a balaclava-clad hitman – who is originally from South America but has a Swedish passport – died instantly during Monday night’s three-car smash in Limerick.

Gardaí have also placed the country’s sea ports and airports on alert for the man.

The Irish Mail on Sunday has learned crucial DNA is being obtained from the airbag that deployed during the crash before the man made his escape on foot.

An informed source compared the incident to a plot from a Hollywood movie, but said it shows the ‘massive, massive influence, interconnection and networks of organised crime’.

The 33-year-old assassin has been identified as Axel Erick Wolfng Liebsch Morales.

Gardaí believe he was employed by a Limerick gang to target someone in the Rathkeale area of the county, before he was killed in the collision.

Swedish police are liaising with gardaí as they have linked the gun-for-hire to other murders in Scandinavia. Gardaí believe one side in a local feud in the south of the country had contracted the men to shoot dead a rival gang member.

However, their plans collapsed in spectacular style at around 11pm on Monday when the contract killers took a wrong turn – despite following a satnav route to their intended location.

As they tried to correct their mistake and turn their car on to the N21 between Abbeyfeale and Newcastle West they instead caused a three-car crash.

Emergency services attended the scene and were ‘shocked’ to discover a loaded semi-automatic hand gun and ammunition on the dead man’s body.

Detectives are now trying to piece together the timeline of events and determine all the people who were involved in the murderous plot.

The driver of the dark grey Seat Leon fled the scene on foot, but left behind his phone and also crucial DNA on the car’s airbag.

A source said it was ‘peculiar’ for a professional hit team to make so many errors.

They told the MoS: ‘He didn’t take the phone and the gun, but obviously he is injured as well so probably wasn’t thinking straight.

‘A warning was circulated to personnel and there is a manhunt ongoing. Armed support and the ERU were drafted in to do that, while all units were on vigilant alert.’ 

Another source said it was ‘unusual’ for local gangs to bring in outside contract killers, but gardaí are hopeful they will get a ‘DNA hit’ from the airbag.

‘Airbags usually have significant DNA left behind,’ they explained.

‘If they had got away with the murder, gardaí would probably be looking for a someone more local to be the one who pulled the trigger. We now know, however, the dead man is a major criminal linked to a number of murders internationally.’ 

Gardaí are tracing back to where the men stayed and travelled, who they were in contact with in person and by phone, and various other factors. 

The dead man’s body has undergone a post mortem, while the occupants of the two other cars involved in the crash were treated in hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.

Gardaí have appealed to anyone who may have seen the grey Seat Leon before the crash to contact them.

A spokesman said: ‘Gardaí are appealing to anyone who may have seen the first vehicle, a Seat Leon with the registration plate KV12-KHP in the Kerry, Limerick and Cork North areas between Sunday, June 7, 2026 and Monday, June 8, 2026 to come forward. 

'Gardaí are particularly interested in speaking with any business premises that may have provided accommodation to any occupants of this vehicle, as well as service stations where the occupants of the vehicle may have purchased petrol.’ 

Gardaí are also continuing to appeal to road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling on the N21 from Newcastle West towards Abbeyfeale, Co. Limerick, between 11pm and 11.30pm on Monday, June 8, 2026 to make this footage available to investigating gardaí.

‘Anyone with information is asked to contact Newcastle West Garda Station on 069 20650, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or to contact any Garda Station.’