Irish police have apprehended 34 individuals following rioting in Dublin city center on Thursday night. The unrest ensued after a knife attack left three children and a school care assistant injured several hours earlier.
Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar revealed that approximately 500 people were involved in the riot, stating that they had "brought shame" to Ireland. He pledged to enact new laws in the coming weeks to hold those responsible accountable. Two of the five stabbing victims, including a five-year-old girl and a heroic school care assistant who shielded children from the attacker, remained in critical condition.
During the clashes with police, rioters destroyed 11 police vehicles, damaged 13 shops, and looted additional establishments. Three buses and a tram were also destroyed, and several police officers sustained injuries during the sustained three-hour riot.
Dublin Fire Brigade reported that a fire truck, initially responding to the stabbing scene, was later attacked by rioters. Divisional organizer Geoff McEvoy described the truck as being "pelted with projectiles" and "beaten with iron implements."
Ireland's police chief, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris, noted an "element of radicalization" in the riot. He attributed the outbreak of violence to "hateful assumptions" circulating online after the stabbings, including false claims about the attacker's identity. The suspect is believed to be an Irish citizen in his late 40s who has resided in the country for two decades.
