‘Huge wreckage’ following a school stabbing in Dublin results in 34 arrests

Following a knife attack in the city center that left three children and a teacher wounded, unrest escalated into violent riots. The chaos resulted in significant damage: 11 police vehicles were destroyed, and 13 shops suffered severe damage and looting. The confrontations with police also led to injuries among the officers, including one with serious injuries.

The situation intensified as rioters demolished three buses and a tram during the prolonged riots, which lasted over three hours. To manage the situation, public order policing units from across the Republic of Ireland were mobilized to provide reinforcement to the city’s police force, An Garda Síochána.

On a Friday morning briefing, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris acknowledged that the recent riots had elements of radicalization. However, he refuted any suggestions that the Garda had not adequately safeguarded the residents and infrastructure of Dublin from the outbreak of violence.

Addressing the press, Commissioner Harris expressed that the force had not foreseen such a violent reaction to the heinous assault on schoolchildren and their teacher. He condemned the actions of those who, driven by animosity, sought to breach police cordons, disrupt the investigation at the crime scene, and partake in aggressive acts of violence and looting.

He also announced that thirty-two individuals are scheduled for a court appearance in Dublin, in connection with the riots that took place.

The city has quieted down, but the unrest continued into the wee hours. As a Dublin resident, I’ve never witnessed anything of this magnitude. The community is notably tense, with businesses shuttered for the day and disruptions in bus and Luas tram services.

This level of disturbance is unprecedented in Dublin for many years.

Eyewitness Patricia MacBride, originally from Londonderry, observed that the rioters were predominantly young, mostly in their late teens and early twenties. However, she found it particularly alarming to see older individuals inciting these youths. MacBride described a scene of a small store on Abbey Street being ransacked, characterizing the actions as mindless vandalism rather than motivated by any ideology.

She also noted that amidst the chaos, there were moments of solidarity, with people of various nationalities being protected by others as they navigated through the turmoil.

Children and their teacher injured

A tragic knife attack occurred outside Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire, a primary school in Dublin’s city center, shortly after 13:40 local time on Thursday. During this incident, as young children were lining up, a man reportedly commenced the stabbings, creating a chaotic and distressing scene.

Among the victims, a five-year-old girl is critically injured and has undergone emergency treatment. Additionally, a six-year-old girl suffered head injuries, and their teacher, a woman in her 30s, is in serious condition. A five-year-old boy also sustained minor injuries but has since been released from the hospital.

A man in his 40s, who was seriously injured in the incident, is considered a person of interest by the police. Authorities have confirmed that they are not seeking anyone else in connection with the stabbings and are pursuing a specific line of inquiry. Sources told the BBC that the suspect is an Irish citizen.

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris, speaking to the media, stated that while the sequence of events is known, the motive behind the attack remains unclear. Following the incident, riots broke out near the scene, including on O’Connell Street, one of Dublin’s main commercial areas. Commissioner Harris attributed the rioting to a “lunatic, hooligan faction with far-right ideologies,” exacerbating the situation as police worked to secure the crime scene.

Commissioner Harris also expressed deep concern for the critically injured girl and her family, who are enduring a tremendous ordeal. Irish President Michael D Higgins has strongly condemned both the attack and the ensuing riots, emphasizing the importance of upholding the rule of law and democratic values in such circumstances.