The knife attack on four people this Thursday in Dublin, three of them minorshas led to serious riots in the city center, with “thugs” from the “far right” exploiting the incident to attack Irish police (Garda) and destroy public transport and street furniture, law enforcement sources said.
The multiple knife attacks that took place after 1:30pm GMT today, for the A five-year-old girl is in serious conditionA demonstration by anti-immigration groups followed in the afternoon around the crime scene north of the capital.
The rally soon devolved into attacks on the Garda with bottles, fireworks and other objects, until it spread to other parts of Dublin where there were mass gatherings of young people Burn police cars, buses and trams.
The mob, spread across various streets, also looted several shops in the center and even broke into a large shopping center, as dozens of videos on social networks show.
The images circulating from cell phone to cell phone also showed several attacks by groups of young people on police officers isolated due to the confusion of the riots, and were described by the political class and authorities as the worst ever seen in this country.
The protests led to the closure of several streets, where police appeared to have regained control around 10 p.m., and public bus, train and tram services have suspended some routes.
The Irish President, Michael D Higginshas expressed concern for the victims of the “horrific” multiple stabbings while praising the police response during the unrest.
“This appalling incident is in the hands of the Garda and the fact that it is being used or abused by groups with an agenda that attacks the principle of social inclusion is reprehensible and condemnable and deserves the condemnation of all who believe in the rule of law .” and democracy,” added Higgins, who primarily holds a representative position.
Before, the head of the Garda, Drew Harrisdescribed these protests as “shameful” and assured that they would drive them forward “a faction of hooligans” with “right-wing extremist ideology”.
Harris urged citizens to ignore the “rumors” circulating on social media about the attacker’s identity as they were “malicious information” being spread by groups “for their own purposes.”
Garda reported the knife attack in central Dublin on Thursday “no connection with terrorism” and that it could be an “isolated” event.
In an appearance to the media, Garda Superintendent Liam Geraghty stated that investigations are now trying to establish the reasons why a man in his 50s, who was arrested at the same location as the attack, stabbed the woman and three minors today and also injured himself with a knife.
The police officer said the suspect attacked several people shortly after 1:30 p.m. GMT today in a busy area in the north of the capital and near a daycare center.
Among the injured are a five-year-old girl who is in “serious condition” and a woman in her 30s, a school employee, who is being treated for “serious injuries”, while the other two minors are out of danger.
According to Geraghty, the suspected attacker, whose identity has not been revealed, is also in hospital with stab wounds and is being questioned to determine the reasons for the attack, which is why he urged citizens to remain calm and “avoid premature legal proceedings.”
Some media outlets indicate that the suspect is a citizen who was not born in Ireland, although he has lived in this country for more than 20 years and holds an Irish passport.
In statements to Irish public broadcaster RTE, Siobhan Kearney, a witness to the incident, explained how she tried to help with the help of another citizen in a situation she described “Absolute chaos.”
“I looked across the street and saw the man and the stabbing gestures in front of a lot of children, so I crossed the street. The man had just stabbed two children,” the witness said.
Kearney noted that several people “attempted to attack the suspect” and that she and another “American woman” formed a circle “around the man.”
“Three minutes later,” he added, “the ambulance came to get the children and then another ambulance and firefighters came to tend to the man on the ground.”
The attack area was cordoned off to facilitate forensic investigations.
The Garda Division said it was “commencing a clear line of inquiry” and was not currently looking for anyone else in connection with the attack.