DUBLIN – Three young children were injured during a violent knife attack in central Dublin on Thursday. The police stated that they would look into all possible motives for the attack, including whether it could be linked to any act of terror.
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The event caused tension between police and anti-immigrant protesters. They quickly flocked to the scene on O’Connell Street, igniting clashes with riot police. The chaos resulted in a double-decker bus and police car being set on fire, while a nearby Holiday Inn hotel and a McDonald’s restaurant had their windows smashed.
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The 5-year-old girl who suffered severe injuries was taken to an emergency. Additional relief aides were also rendered to a man in his late 40s - who might have been a perpetrator – after claiming that he sustained serious injuries. According to authorities, they do not suspect any other suspects at the moment.
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Police Chief Drew Harris said that no motives were disregarded for this event. “As I’ve said from the beginning, all possibilities should be considered in determining the cause of this attack,” he emphasized in a press conference, where he likewise confirmed that terrorism is not suspected based on current evidence. “Until we have a solid motive, we should all keep an open mind about what possibly caused this violence.”
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The incident occurred at approximately 1:30 p.m. at Parnell Square, where the perpetrator assaulted multiple people. However, this event was put to a stop by the locals who responded during its early stages.
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The attack resulted in a number of casualties, including a woman in her 30s who also endured severe injury. In contrast, the two (2) other children, ages 5 and 6 respectively, experienced more minor injuries. At present, the boy has already been discharged from the hospital; however, the street remains cordoned off as of 6 p.m.
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Moreover, around 50 anti-immigrant protestors abruptly caused chaos when they breached through the police barrier. Some of them shouted slurs such as “get them out,” while one of them damaged a police car mirror. Another demonstrator even waved an Irish flag, compounding the confusion that has already unfolded.
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Meanwhile, a portion of the protesters began hurling fireworks and various objects at the riot police force deployed as reinforcements. Several protesters also demolished police cars, leading the consul to express his dismay towards the situation. “It’s very pathetic to witness such an unnecessary event. These mindless buffoons were triggered by their extremist principles, which led them to lash out in violent manners,” he clarified.
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The authorities cannot yet disclose any specific information about the people involved, as per procedural protocols. However, a group of migrant-rights activists, who participated in peaceful rallies earlier this week, believed that the authorities had prematurely judged the cause of the attack.
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The situation brought worry to a school near the vicinity. Nevertheless, Superintendent Liam Geraghty confirmed that the location played no bearing during the attack on the group of people.
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Anthony Boyle, a 31-year-old IT consultant who was passing by at the time of the incident shared, ”I remember seeing a young girl crying, lying on the ground.”
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He continued, “The entire ordeal was a mess—women screaming, men in tears, and even more wailing sounds from everyone.”
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Prime Minister Leo Varadkar released a statement condemned the situation, saying that he, too, was shocked and saddened by the incident.
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