LONDON DAILY ARCHIVE
Dublin Riots Sparked by Stabbing Incident Near School
Dublin faced riots and protests, reportedly fueled by far-right groups, after a stabbing near a school in Parnell Square East injured two adults and three children.
24 November 2023 · 02:58 UTC
The mob, believed to be motivated by far-right ideologies, launched fireworks at officers while a five-year-old girl and a woman in her 30s, likely a school staff member, were hospitalized with serious injuries.
Police were deployed with riot shields to contain the violence as public transport vehicles were torched on key streets, and stores like Foot Locker and Asics were looted or damaged.
During the tumult, the Garda public order unit stepped in to manage the scene, and a suspect has been arrested concerning the stabbings. The attack is currently seen as an isolated incident, not related to terrorism, although motives are still under investigation. Additional victims, including a five-year-old boy and a man in his 50s, received hospital treatment but sustained less severe injuries.
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris condemned the violence and misinformation spread online, urging the public to rely on verified facts. Chief Superintendent Patrick McMenamin confirmed the city's return to calm and a large deployment of officers, some of whom were assaulted without serious harm.
Justice Minister Helen McEntee decried the crime and warned against exploitation of the tragedy for disruptive purposes. President Michael D. Higgins emphasized solidarity with the victims and denounced the misuse of the incident by agenda-driven groups.
Eyewitnesses played a crucial role in halting the stabbing, with bystanders, including a Deliveroo driver, intervening to subdue the assailant. Community shock was expressed by Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, pointing out the unlikelihood of such violence in central Dublin. The affected school, identified as Gael Cholaiste Mhuire, is an Irish-speaking institution, now coping with the aftermath of the traumatic event.