Violence erupted in Dublin following a stabbing outside a school, resulting in widespread destruction and 34 arrests, according to Ireland’s police Chief Drew Harris.
The incident occurred after three children and a teacher were injured in the knife attack in the city center.
The clashes led to significant damage, with 11 police vehicles, 13 shops, three buses, and a tram being badly damaged during the riots, which lasted over three hours.
Mr. Harris emphasized that the response to the violent crime was unexpected and condemned the hate-driven aggression directed at the police force.
He denied accusations of inadequate protection, citing the unforeseen escalation following the crime scene’s disruption.
The stabbing occurred outside Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire, a primary school, leaving a five-year-old girl critically injured, a six-year-old girl with head injuries, and a woman seriously ill.
The attacker, a man in his 40s, is considered a person of interest and is reported to be an Irish citizen with a lengthy residency in the country.
The motive behind the attack remains unclear, with Mr. Harris highlighting the perplexity surrounding the incident.
He attributed the ensuing rioting to a “lunatic, hooligan faction driven by a far-right ideology,” stressing that it was unrelated to the earlier knife attack and condemning it as “gratuitous thuggery.”
While the disorder subsided toward midnight, more than 400 officers continued patrolling Dublin city center overnight.
President Michael D Higgins denounced the attack and subsequent disorder, emphasizing the need for condemnation by those supporting law and democracy.
Witnesses described chaotic scenes following the attack, with Siobhan Kearney detailing how she and another bystander disarmed the assailant.
The incident has shocked the community, with efforts focused on supporting the injured and their families, as conveyed by Ireland’s Justice Minister Helen McEntee.
Overall, the incident involved an unexpected outbreak of violence post-stabbing, leading to significant destruction and arrests, while the motive behind the attack remains unclear.
Source-BBC
