"Unity Rising: Dublin Community Stands Strong Amidst Tragedy, Calls for Change After Knife Attack Leaves Three Children Injured"

 

"Unity Rising: Dublin Community Stands Strong Amidst Tragedy, Calls for Change After Knife Attack Leaves Three Children Injured"

Hours after a stabbing incident outside a school, a crowd howling anti-immigrant chants confronts with police.

 

During rioting in Dublin city centre following a stabbing attack outside a school, buses and trams were set on fire and a shop was robbed. After riot police and anti-immigrant protestors clashed along O'Connell Street, the main thoroughfare, public transportation was suspended and patients were urged not to go to a nearby maternity facility unless absolutely essential. In front of the Daniel O'Connell statue at the head of the street, a double-decker bus caught fire, A police car was also burnt out and windows of a McDonald's restaurant and Holiday Inn close were broken. A Footlocker shop was broken into.

"Those are scenes of shame. "We have a far-right-leaning, insane group of hooligans involved in violent acts," Police Commissioner Drew Harris informed reporters following the deployment of 400 police officers to restore order.

As violence intensified from a demonstration that began Thursday afternoon at the scene of the event, police and officials pleaded for calm and warned against disinformation.

As some demonstrators let off flares and launchers, others grabbed chairs and stools from outside bars and restaurants, there were skirmishes with riot police. At its busiest, the reaction encompassed almost 400 Irish police personnel. The scenes were called "intolerable" by Irish Justice Minister Helen McEntee, who further said that "a thuggish and manipulative element must not be allowed to use an appalling tragedy to wreak havoc."

Following an attack on a woman and three little children in Parnell Square East, in the northern part of the city center, violence broke out. A man in his 50s was taken into custody by the police and was receiving medical attention for his wounds. They declared that they had no further leads. The incident was committed outside Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire, a school, on Thursday around 1:30 p.m. Three people were reported seriously injured by the police: a man in his 50s, a woman in her 30s, and a five-year-old daughter. The girl was being treated with emergency medical care. Less serious injuries were treated for a six-year-old girl and a five-year-old child. The youngster was allowed to leave the hospital.

Supt. Liam Geraghty implored anyone with details on the event to come forward, including any cell phone footage of the attack and its aftermath. In what he described as a frightening and dangerous occurrence, he commended the bystanders who stepped in to help.

Supt. Liam Geraghty stated earlier on Thursday that although investigators were "satisfied there is no terrorist link," they were maintaining an open mind regarding the probe. But Harris stated, "I have never ruled out any possible motive for this attack," during a press conference in the evening. We're open to any kind of investigation to find the motivation.

Just before 1800 GMT, a group of about 50 anti-immigrant protestors momentarily broke over a police barrier, but the area remained cordoned off. A few yelled "get them out," while another kicked a police car's wing mirror. An Irish flag was draping over another. The rioting then got out of control as a larger crowd started hurling objects and shooting fireworks at riot police wearing helmets and shields. At around 2100 GMT, the throngs started to thin out.

 Regarding the detained man's nationality, the police would not comment.