In a shocking incident outside a school in Dublin, a 5-year-old girl was critically injured in a knife attack, triggering a wave of violence in the city. The assailant described only as a man in his fifties, left a woman and two other young children hospitalized.
The aftermath saw hundreds of protestors engaging in clashes with the police, setting vehicles ablaze, looting shops, and even burning a double-decker bus in front of the iconic Daniel O'Connell statue. The chaos unfolded in the heart of Dublin, with over 400 officers, many in riot gear, deployed to quell the unrest. Authorities attributed the violence to what they termed "a small group of thugs."
The incident that sparked the turmoil involved a 5-year-old girl in north-central Dublin suffering serious injuries in a suspected stabbing, alongside a woman in her 30s. Two other children, a 5-year-old boy and a 6-year-old girl, sustained less severe injuries. Social media rumours about the nationality of the assailant further fueled tensions.
Protestors took to the streets with signs reading "Irish Lives Matter," waving Irish flags in a neighbourhood known for its large immigrant community. Ireland is grappling with a severe housing crisis, with the government estimating a shortfall of hundreds of thousands of homes for the general population.
The widespread dissatisfaction with the housing situation has contributed to a backlash against asylum seekers and refugees. Far-right figures have capitalized on anti-immigration sentiment, both at rallies and on social media, claiming that "Ireland is full." This unrest comes amid a backdrop of increased net migration in the past year, reaching its second-highest level since records began.
Notably, Ireland has seen an influx of around 100,000 Ukrainian refugees, one of the highest per capita rates in the EU, following Russia's invasion. The incident and its aftermath underscore the urgent need for addressing societal tensions, housing concerns, and fostering community cohesion in Dublin and beyond.