Violent Dublin riots erupt after children stabbed – Prime Minister condemns protesters.
Ireland’s Prime Minister strongly condemned the violent actions of anti-immigrant protesters in Dublin, following a disturbing incident where three young children were stabbed. The PM, Leo Varadkar, denounced the rioters, emphasizing that their intent was to sow chaos rather than protect the nation’s values.
The upheaval unfolded as around 500 individuals engaged in looting, setting vehicles ablaze, and attacking law enforcement officers with rocks. The catalyst for this violence stemmed from rumors implicating a foreign national in the attack outside a Dublin school the previous day, leading to an eruption of unrest within the city.
Varadkar expressed a dual assault on Dublin: one targeting innocent children and another on the societal fabric and rule of law. He emphasized that the perpetrators’ motivations were rooted in hate, a penchant for violence, chaos, and causing harm to others, rather than any genuine patriotism or love for Ireland.
The aftermath of the stabbing incident left a 5-year-old girl in critical condition, along with a teacher’s aide in serious condition, while a 6-year-old girl and another child received medical attention. Meanwhile, the alleged assailant, apprehended by witnesses, remained hospitalized in serious condition.
Commissioner Drew Harris, head of Ireland’s national police force, highlighted the severe toll of the clashes, with one officer seriously injured. He characterized the protesters as a “complete lunatic hooligan faction” driven by far-right ideologies, many armed with metal bars and concealing their identities.
In response to the escalating unrest, over 400 officers, including those in riot gear, were deployed across Dublin’s city center. The Irish Parliament building, Leinster House, was cordoned off, and mounted officers patrolled nearby areas, notably Grafton Street. Commissioner Harris underscored the role of social media and the internet in radicalizing individuals but emphasized the ongoing investigation into both the violent disorder and the assault on the schoolchildren and their teacher.
