After a knife attack in the center of the Irish capital Dublin with several injuries – including three children – serious riots broke out on Thursday evening. As the Irish broadcaster RTÉ reported, two buses and a police car were set on fire and a shop was looted. In addition, police officers were attacked and had bottles thrown at them.
A police spokesman blamed right-wing extremist hooligans for the attacks. “We are bringing in reinforcements to deal with this,” the spokesman said, according to RTÉ.
Attack on children
It was unclear whether there was a connection to the knife attack in the same area. A five-year-old girl and a woman were seriously injured in the attack. This was reported by the Irish broadcaster RTÉ, citing the police and rescue workers. Two other children suffered minor injuries. A suspect who was arrested on site is also said to have suffered serious injuries.
According to the report, the man, aged around 50, attacked the children as they lined up in front of a crèche. The injured woman is said to be a daycare employee who intervened to protect the children. Several passers-by managed to overpower the man and hold him until the police arrived. According to a police spokesman, no other suspects were initially sought.
A motive was initially unknown, but the police apparently did not assume a terrorist background. Prime Minister Leo Varadkar was shocked. He thanked the rescue workers who were quickly at the scene. Justice Minister Helen McEntee spoke of a “horrific attack on three innocent children and a woman.”