Unrest Unleashed: Dublin Erupts in Chaos as Rioters Clash with Police Following Knife Attack
In the aftermath of a knife attack in Dublin that left several people injured, including three children, the city descended into chaos as protesters and rioters clashed with police on Thursday evening. The incident, which occurred on O’Connell Street and Parnell Square East, saw rioters attacking gardaí (state police force officers) and setting a police vehicle ablaze.
Reports from Irish media outlet RTÉ indicate that the rioters hurled fireworks and bottles at police officers, leading to the deployment of over 400 officers in riot gear to quell the unrest. The violence, attributed to what authorities termed "a small group of thugs," prompted the establishment of a police cordon around the Irish Parliament building, Leinster House. Additionally, officers from the Mounted Support Unit were stationed on Grafton Street.
The chaos extended beyond clashes with law enforcement, with rioters setting off flares and fireworks, damaging police vehicles, a tram, and setting a bus and car on fire on O'Connell Bridge. Shop windows were smashed, and a Foot Locker store was looted, prompting the suspension of all public transport in the city, including trams and buses.
These disturbing events transpired just hours after the knife attack outside a school in Dublin around 1:30 p.m. The victims included a 5-year-old girl receiving emergency medical treatment, a woman, and two other children. A 6-year-old girl sustained less serious injuries, while a boy was discharged from the hospital.
While Irish police stated that the knife attack was not terror-related, they identified a man in his 50s, hospitalized with serious injuries, as a "person of interest." No further details about the man's identity were released, and authorities assured that they have a "definite line of inquiry" and were not seeking anyone else in connection with the violence outside the school. The situation remains fluid, with the city grappling with the aftermath of both the knife attack and the subsequent riots.
Amidst the turmoil in Dublin following a knife attack and subsequent riots, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris addressed the media at an evening press conference, highlighting the challenges in establishing clear facts. Harris emphasized the ongoing effort to sift through the rumors and innuendo that have proliferated, attributing some of the information dissemination to "malevolent purposes."
Expressing his disapproval of the public disorder, Harris characterized the situation as "disgraceful" and urged calm, stating, "I wish people would calm down, go home, and allow us to actually conduct our duties and investigations properly."
Superintendent Liam Geraghty, providing preliminary insights at a media briefing, indicated that a man attacked multiple people on Parnell Square East. He stressed that the incident appears to be a "standalone" event, not necessarily linked to broader issues in the country or the city. The exact motives behind the attack are yet to be identified.
While confirming witness reports of a knife being used, Geraghty refrained from detailing the nature of the injuries. He did acknowledge the swift intervention of members of the public in disarming the assailant, commending their courage in a "traumatic and potentially dangerous situation."
Irish Justice Minister Helen McEntee expressed deep shock over the "appalling attack on three innocent children and a woman." She sternly declared that unrest in the city would not be tolerated, condemning any attempt by a "thuggish and manipulative element" to exploit the tragedy for chaos. McEntee called for calm in the city center, asserting that attacks on the police force, An Garda Síochána, would be severely dealt with.
As Dublin grapples with the aftermath of this shocking incident, the authorities' call for calm and the pursuit of a comprehensive investigation underscore the complexities and challenges involved in understanding the events that unfolded.
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