A man has warned that he was the victim of a “premeditated homophobic attack” after he was ambushed by group of teenagers in a Dublin car park.

Marc Power said he was jumped after arranging to meet someone on the Grindr dating app on Tuesday.

He said the group of teenage boys were carrying weapons and attempted to hit him in the head with hammers.

“They tried to kill me with these weapons,” he said.

“They didn't manage but I'm in the emergency room in hospital with facial injuries and my car was destroyed.”

He is warning other gay men to take extra care online.

Gardaí confirmed they are investigating an assault on a man in his 50s near the Malahide Road in Coolock.

They said it happened at around 10:30pm.

Mr Power was taken to Beaumont Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.