The Irish Garda foresees new incidents this evening and reinforces the police presence on the streets of Dublin
More than 30 people have been arrested in the riots that broke out late Thursday in Dublin and that, promoted by far-right groups, responded to the multiple stabbing that left five people injured next to a school in the center of the Irish capital, among They three children.
Garda Chief Drew Harris has confirmed 30 arrests and promised to make “many more arrests”, following a night of violence in which 13 shops were looted and three buses and a tram destroyed. The Police have focused a large part of the attacks, with eleven vehicles damaged and several officers injured, one of them in serious condition.
The authorities have pointed to far-right factions as the origin of these protests and have asked the population to stick to official information about Thursday’s attack, so as not to fall for hoaxes that may circulate on the Internet. For now there is no definitive version of the attack, although at first the Police pointed out that it did not appear to be a terrorist incident.
“These are scenes that we have not seen in decades, but what is clear is that people have been radicalized through social media and the Internet,” stressed Harris, who acknowledged that the Garda must be aware and prepared to new incidents tonight.
In fact, Harris has announced that a “strong” police force has been prepared for tonight on the streets of the Irish capital. “We cannot allow the city to be handed over to thugs, looters and arsonists,” said the Chief Commissioner of the Irish Garda.
The Prime Minister, Leo Varadkar, has strongly condemned the riots, which he considers “a shame for Ireland”, and has estimated that around 500 people participated. “Being Irish is more than just saluting the flag and beating your chest,” said the president.
He also remembered the victims of the multiple stabbing: a five-year-old girl and an adult woman suffered serious injuries, as well as the alleged aggressor, a man who, according to initial investigations, acted alone.
“The first was an attack against innocent children, the second against society and the rule of law,” Varadkar said this Friday, according to public television RTE. Both the prime minister and the Police have highlighted the need to also review the actions of the security forces in the riots, to determine if they could have acted better to prevent the escalation of violence.
