The Irish capital of Dublin was gripped by violence and unrest on Thursday evening as protesters clashed with police following a horrific stabbing incident that left five individuals, including three children, injured outside a school. Stabbing of Children Outside School.
The shocking incident occurred in Parnell Square East, north central Dublin, around 1:30 p.m. (1330 GMT), when a man armed with a knife attacked a group of people outside the school.
According to local media reports, a five-year-old girl sustained serious injuries in the attack, while two other children and two adults, including the suspected perpetrator, were also taken to hospital with stab wounds.
The incident sparked a wave of anger and outrage among residents, who gathered near the scene of the attack to express their dismay and demand justice for the victims.
As the evening progressed, the situation escalated into violent clashes, with protesters throwing stones and bottles at police officers, who responded with batons and riot shields.
Cars were torched and shops were looted as the unrest spread through the city center, with police forced to deploy additional resources to contain the situation.
The violence continued for several hours, causing widespread disruption and damage to property, before police eventually managed to restore order.
Dublin Erupts in Violence Following Stabbing of Children Outside School
The motive behind the attack remains unclear, but local authorities have not ruled out the possibility of a hate crime, as rumors about the nationality of the assailant fueled tensions among the protesters.
“There are disgraceful scenes,” Justice Minister Helen McEntee told reporters, condemning the violence and urging the public to remain calm.
“We have a complete lunatic, hooligan faction driven by far-right ideology engaged in serious violence,” she added.
The incident has sent shockwaves through Dublin and has raised concerns about the growing levels of violence and extremism in the city.
As the city recovers from the unrest, the focus remains on the victims of the stabbing attack, who are still receiving treatment in hospital.
The attack has also reignited calls for stricter knife control measures in Ireland, as well as greater efforts to address the root causes of violence and extremism.
