Violent Clashes Erupt in Dublin Following Knife Attack
On Thursday evening, central Dublin became a scene of chaos as violent clashes broke out in response to a horrific knife attack earlier in the day. The attack left a 5-year-old girl seriously injured, while a woman and two other young children were also hospitalized.
The Irish police reported that the young girl was receiving emergency medical treatment at a Dublin hospital. Shortly after this announcement, approximately 100 individuals took to the streets, some of whom were armed with metal bars and had their faces covered.
In an effort to contain the unrest, the police deployed over 400 officers, many of whom were equipped with riot gear. They described the violence as being "caused by a small group of thugs." Additionally, a police cordon was established around the Irish Parliament building, Leinster House, and officers from the Mounted Support Unit were present in the nearby Grafton Street area.
During the clashes, riot police faced off against demonstrators who set off flares and fireworks. Some individuals even seized chairs and stools from nearby bars and restaurants.
The disorder resulted in damage to several police vehicles and a tram. Furthermore, a bus and car were set on fire on the city's O'Connell Bridge.
Shop windows were routinely smashed and a Foot Locker store was looted. All public transport in the city — trams and buses — was suspended and many firms have urged their staff to work from home on Friday.
"We have a complete lunatic hooligan faction driven by far-right ideology, and also then this disruptive tendency engaged in serious violence," said Ireland's top police officer, Drew Harris.
Police and politicians called for calm and warned against misinformation over the attack earlier in the day.
"The scenes we are witnessing this evening in our city center cannot and will not be tolerated," said Justice Minister Helen McEntee. "A thuggish and manipulative element must not be allowed to use an appalling tragedy to wreak havoc."
Earlier, police said a man in his 50s, who also was seriously injured, is a "person of interest" in their investigation. No other details about his identity were revealed.
At a press briefing in the evening, Harris was asked about a potential terrorist link, and he didn't rule it out.
"I have never ruled out any possible motive for this attack...all lines of inquiry are open to determine the motive for this attack," he said.
That appeared to be a slight change in stance from earlier, when Superintendent Liam Geraghty said police were keeping an open mind in terms of the investigation but were "satisfied there is no terrorist link."
Knife Attack Leaves Multiple Injured in Dublin
A knife attack in Dublin left several people injured, including two children. The incident occurred on Parnell Square East shortly after 1:30 p.m. A woman in her 30s suffered serious injuries, while a 5-year-old boy and a 6-year-old girl sustained less serious injuries. The boy has already been discharged from the hospital.
According to Geraghty, who spoke at a media briefing, the initial indications suggest that a man carried out the attack. However, the police believe it to be a standalone incident and not connected to any wider issues in the country or the city.
"My understanding is members of the public did intervene at a very, very early stage and we would applaud those members of the public for getting involved in such a traumatic and potentially dangerous situation for themselves," Geraghty said.
