Live: Garda car set on fire and Luas tram attacked in Dublin 

A bus and car are on fire on O’Connell Bridge in Dublin city centre as disorder continues on Thursday night after three children and a woman were attacked near a school earlier in the day.

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said a “complete lunatic faction driven by far-right ideology” is behind disorder in Dublin this evening.

He said a number of Garda vehicles have been damaged.

“I think there’s disgraceful scenes in terms of a major investigation, the maintenance of a scene and the gathering of evidence,” he told media during a press conference at Mountjoy Garda Station.

“We have a complete lunatic hooligan faction driven by far-right ideology, and also then this disruptive tendency engaged in serious violence.

“We are drafting in resources to deal with that and that will be dealt with properly. I’ve given full direction to our resources here in respect of making arrests and bringing offenders to justice.

“It’s our responsibility to make sure that we police the streets, and part of that is we ask people to act responsibly and not to listen to the misinformation and rumour that is circulating on social media.

“The facts are being established, but the facts are still not clear on a lot of the rumour and the innuendo is being spread for malevolent purposes.”

Violent scenes are unfolding close to the site of the attack in Dublin city centre as crowds of protesters gathered.

A Garda public order unit was deployed in the area around Parnell Square, Parnell Street and O’Connell Street.

Some protesters have been involved in scuffles with gardaí while others threw bottles, flares and fireworks at officers.

A car on fire on Parnell Street in Dublin is a Garda vehicle. Another fire is burning on the opposite side of the street.

Rioters have also attacked a Luas tram on O’Connell Street, smashing several of its windows.

A fire has broken out inside the damaged Luas tram as violence continues on O’Connell Street in Dublin city centre.

Justice minister Helen McEntee said: “The horrific attack today in Dublin city centre was an appalling crime that has shocked us all.

“An Garda Síochána are following a definite line of inquiry and are not looking for anyone else regarding this crime. The perpetrator will be brought to justice.

“However, the scenes we are witnessing this evening in our city centre cannot and will not be tolerated. A thuggish and manipulative element must not be allowed use an appalling tragedy to wreak havoc.

“I have spoken to local TDs from all sides of the Dáil and we are of the same view.

“We will not tolerate a small number using an appalling incident to spread division.

“I would appeal for calm in the city centre as An Garda Síochána carry out their work – attacks on members of An Garda Síochána must be utterly condemned and will be dealt with severely.

“I am meeting the Garda Commissioner this evening to discuss the policing plan in the city tonight.

“Most importantly, we must remember the real tragedy of today and allow the investigations take their course.”

5:25pm

Gardaí have said they are continuing to investigate all the circumstances of a serious assault which occurred in Dublin shortly after 1:30pm this afternoon.

Preliminary indications are that a male attacked a number of people on Parnell Square East, they said in a statement.

Five casualties were taken to hospitals in the Dublin Region. These include three young children, an adult female and an adult male.

One girl aged five has sustained serious injuries and is currently receiving emergency medical treatment in CHI Temple Street.

A boy aged 5 and a girl aged 6 years, who received less serious injuries were brought to CHI Crumlin for treatment. The boy has since been discharged from CHI Crumlin.

An Garda Síochána is providing support to the children's parents.

The woman in her 30s is being treated for serious injuries at the Mater Hospital.

An man in his 50s is also being treated for serious injuries at a Hospital in the Dublin Region.

The scene remains sealed off at this time and a technical examination of the scene is ongoing.

"An incident room has been established at Mountjoy Garda Station and a Senior Investigating Officer has been appointed," An Garda Síochána said in a statement.

"An Garda Síochána is following a definite line of inquiry. The male in his 50s is a person of interest in this investigation. An Garda Síochána is not looking for any other person at this time.

"An Garda Síochána continues to have an open mind at this early stage of the investigation."

They are appealing to anyone with any information on this attack to contact investigating Gardaí. Investigating Gardaí are also appealing to any person who may have mobile phone footage of the attack or the immediate aftermath to make this footage available to An Garda Síochána.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Mountjoy Garda Station 01 6668600 the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.

An Garda Síochána are not in a position to provide any further information at this early stage of the investigation.

Speaking at a press conference in Dublin, Superintendent Liam Geraghty said An Garda Siochana “continues to have an open mind at this early stage of the investigation”, but are satisfied there is no terrorist link.

“This is a very early stage of the investigation which is not even four hours old at this stage, but at this time An Garda Siochana is satisfied from our inquiries that there is no terror-related activity or related to any wider aspects in relation to this matter,” he said.

“It would appear to be a standalone attack, and we need to determine the reasons behind that.” 

Supt Geraghty said his understanding is that a knife was used in the attack, but he could not provide more detail on the nature of the injuries.

He said the parents of the children involved in the Dublin incident were aware of the incident very quickly.

“We are dealing, not just with the parents of the three children, but parents of the wider group that would have seen and potentially be traumatised as a result of what happened this afternoon,” the Garda officer said.

“My understanding is that the first emergency services were ambulances, and they were there within minutes, followed by An Garda Síochána.

“My understanding is members of the public did intervene at a very, very early stage and we would applaud those members of the public for getting involved in such a traumatic and potentially dangerous situation for themselves.

“We’re aware that the public are concerned about the activities that have happened today. The message to them is that we believe that this is a standalone incident, not necessarily connected to any wider issues that are ongoing in the country or in the city, and we need to identify the exact reasons for that happening.

“So we’d ask for people not to jump to conclusions and not to make rash judgments on what may have happened.”

Earlier

THREE children have been injured in a serious incident in Dublin city centre, the PA news agency understands.

The incident happened in Parnell Square East in the north inner-city of Dublin.

Gardaí are investigating all the circumstances of the serious public order incident which occurred shortly after 1.30pm this afternoon

A spokesperson for the Garda said: "Five  casualties have been taken to various hospitals in the Dublin Region. The casualties include an adult male, an adult female and three (3) young children.

"One child, a girl, has sustained serious injuries, the other two children are being treated for less serious injuries. An Garda Síochána is in contact with parents of all three injured children.

"The adult female is being treated for serious injuries and the adult male for less serious injuries.

"The scene remains sealed off at this time.

"An Garda Síochána is following a definite line of inquiry.

"An Garda Síochána is not looking for any other person at this time."

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar: “We are all shocked by the incident which has taken place in Parnell Square. A number of people have been injured, some of them children. Our thoughts and our prayers go out to them and their families.

“I have been in contact with the Minister for Justice who is keeping me updated. The facts in this matter are still emerging. The emergency services responded very quickly and were on site within minutes. I thank them for that. Gardaí have detained a suspect and are following a definite line of inquiry.”

Tánaiste Micheál Martin said he is “deeply shocked” at a serious incident.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with all those injured, their families, friends and the emergency services who responded so quickly at the scene,” he posted on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

Justice Minister Helen McEntee also said she was “deeply shocked” by the “appalling attack on three innocent children and a woman” in Dublin city centre.

Ms McEntee said: “All our thoughts are with those injured, especially with the children, their parents and families, during this extremely difficult period.

“I have been briefed by the Garda Commissioner and will remain in close contact with him and senior Gardaí.

“It is my understanding that Gardaí are following a definite line of inquiry and are not looking for any other person at this time.

“This attack has shocked us all, and I have no doubt that the person responsible will be brought to justice.

“However, my thoughts now are with the innocent children and the woman who have been attacked, their families, and those who are caring for them at this time.”

At least two dozen Garda members attended the scene of a serious incident in Dublin’s inner city in which several people were injured.

Parnell Square East was cordoned off by Garda tape as crowds gathered at the end of the road.