Riots after knife attack in Dublin Thousands are protesting in Nepal for the reintroduction of the monarchy

A five-year-old girl and a woman were seriously injured in a knife attack this afternoon, Irish broadcaster RTÉ reported. The girl reportedly required emergency surgery. Two other children were slightly injured. A suspect arrested at the scene was also said to have been seriously injured.

The riots

In the evening there was serious rioting in central Dublin, with several buses and a police car being set on fire, according to RTÉ. In addition, police officers were attacked and bottles were thrown at them. Videos circulating on social media showed a store being looted.

A police spokesperson blames the attacks on right-wing extremist hooligans who have committed serious acts of violence. “We are deploying reinforcements to address this,” the spokesperson said, according to RTÉ. According to a reporter for the British news channel Sky News, hundreds of people, some of whom were masked, took part in the riots.

The knife attack

A five-year-old girl and a woman were seriously injured in the knife attack this afternoon. The Irish broadcaster RTÉ reported this on Thursday, citing police and rescue workers. Two other children were slightly injured. A suspect arrested at the scene was also said to have been seriously injured.

According to the report, the man, aged between 40 and 50, attacked the children as they stood in line at a daycare center. The injured woman is believed to be a childcare worker who intervened to protect the children. Several passersby managed to overpower the man and hold him until the police arrived.

According to a police spokesperson, no other suspects were initially wanted in connection with the crime. A motive was initially unknown, but the police did not assume a terrorist background.

The incident took place shortly before 2 p.m. (local time, 3 p.m. CET) at Parnell Square East in the center of the Irish capital.

The reactions

Prime Minister Leo Varadkar was shocked by the knife attack. He thanked the rescuers who arrived quickly on the scene. Justice Minister Helen McEntee called it a “horrific attack on three innocent children and a woman”.

EU Council President Charles Michel wrote on Platform X that he was “shocked by the terrible attack in Dublin”. Varadkar can count on the full solidarity of the EU in these difficult times. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said she was thinking of all the injured and their families.

(hah/sda/dpa)