Police Chief Drew Harris has said that a “hooligan faction driven by far-right ideology” was behind the violent protests in Dublin on Thursday evening, the 23rd of November, which erupted after five people, including three children, were injured in a knife attack, according to Irish news media, reports Politico.
Following clashes between riot police and anti-immigrant protesters near O’Connell Street, public transport was suspended, and patients were advised not to travel to a nearby maternity hospital unless it was essential.
Violent incidents in the city centre, including the burning of a police car and public transport, and assaults on police officers, were seen on social media.
Protesters in #Dublin set fire to public transport, police and civilian cars. pic.twitter.com/42wRtnSSLm
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) November 23, 2023
A protester in Dublin sets a police car on fire
pic.twitter.com/xWQVYsrtMH
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) November 23, 2023
Local media reported that some protesters shouted anti-immigrant slogans.
Information circulating on the web said that the attacker was Algerian, which incited the anti-immigrant protests.
Protesters also reportedly broke windows looted and vandalised shops.
Some protesters in #Dublin smash windows and loot stores
Videos and photo: @adrianweckler pic.twitter.com/V1tcUhEN0m
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) November 23, 2023
Justice Minister Helen McEntee has called for “calm” and condemned attacks on police. She stressed that the government would not allow any group to use the incident to cause division.
Thursday’s knife attack took place in the early afternoon
outside a school near Parnell Square, in the city centre. A five-year-old girl, a woman in her 30s and a man in his 50s were seriously injured and the girl was given urgent medical attention. A five-year-old boy and a six-year-old girl were also treated for less serious injuries.
The police have detained the man aged about 50. While initially ruling out a terrorist motive, Police Chief Harris said that all possible motives were still being examined.
According to Reuters, anti-immigrant protests in Dublin, although small, have become more frequent over the past year.
Thursday’s protest in Dublin, during which lawmakers were trapped in parliament, is said to be unprecedented – there are no far-right parties or politicians in parliament – and the government is reviewing security measures around parliament.
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