Dublin stabbings: Violence erupts in city centre after girl, 5, injured in ‘stabbing’

The Irish National Teachers’ Organisation says its hearts are with the entire school community of Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire “following the horrendous incident that has taken place today”.

“We are thinking of the children, their families and the school’s staff during this unimaginably difficult time,” the statement adds.

The Irish-medium school has around 172 pupils and is based in a four-storey Georgian building.

Protesters are firing flares and fireworks at the Garda cordon in Dublin, while a car has also been set on fire.

Gardai with shields have been fending off violent demonstrators attempting to kick and punch them.

Many of those attacking gardai have hoods up and their faces covered.

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 has been deployed in the area around Parnell Square, Parnell Street and O’Connell Street.

Some protesters have been involved in scuffles with gardai while others threw bottles at officers.

Labour Party Senator Marie Sherlock was in the area after the incident and says the children who were stabbed were queueing up to go to after-school care when they were attacked.

“Today is a harrowing day,” she told the BBC.

“Our thoughts are with all the whole school community.

“While it is all very real today, I think the impact of the trauma tomorrow, next week and the time after is really going to be very difficult.”

Moving to reassure the public, Supt Geraghty said: “I don’t have a specific reason why the children or any of their carers or teachers may have been on the street but it’s a public road, it’s outside their school, it’s a normal activity for them to be going to or from their school. We need to determine the reasons behind the attack.”

Supt Geraghty reiterates that gardaí believe it was a standalone incident unconnected to any “wider issues in the country or the city”.

He appeals to people not to jump to conclusions and not to “make rash judgements on what may have happened”.

Superintendent Liam Geraghty 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 Siochana.

“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.

Superintendent Liam Geraghty says Gardai are appealing to anyone with information or mobile phone footage to contact them and “make this footage available to An Garda Síochána”.

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.

Superintendent Liam Geraghty told a press conference that an examination of the scene remains onoing, and that a man in his 50s is a person of interest.

He said: “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 Siochana is following a definite line of inquiry.

“The male in his 50s is a person of interest to An Garda Siochana in this investigation and An Garda Siochana is not looking for any other person at this time.”