Ireland’s PM slams anti-immigrant violence in Dublin

"These criminals did not do what they did because they love Ireland"

 

 Irish police officers try to disperse a demonstration near the scene of an attack in Dublin city center, Thursday Nov. 23, 2023. A 5-year-old girl is receiving emergency medical treatment in a Dublin hospital following an attack on Thursday that involved a knife. A woman and two other children were injured. Irish police said they weren’t treating the case as terror-related, and that a man in his 50s, who was also hospitalized with serious injuries, is a “person of interest.” 

(Brian Lawless/PA via AP)

PUBLISHED: November 24, 2023 

By Danica Kirka | Associated Press

LONDON — Ireland’s prime minister on Friday condemned anti-immigrant protesters who rampaged through central Dublin after three young children were stabbed, saying the rioters simply wanted to cause chaos, not protect the country’s way of life.

Police arrested 34 people overnight after up to 500 people looted shops, set fire to vehicles and threw rocks at crowd control officers equipped with helmets and shields. The violence began after rumors circulated that a foreign national was responsible for the attack outside a Dublin school on Thursday afternoon.

Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said Ireland’s capital had endured two attacks, one on innocent children and the other on “our society and the rule of law.”

“These criminals did not do what they did because they love Ireland, they did not do what they did because they wanted to protect Irish people, they did not do it out of any sense of patriotism, however warped,” Varadkar told reporters on Friday morning. “They did so because they’re filled with hate, they love violence, they love chaos, and they love causing pain to others.”

A 5-year-old girl was in critical condition at a Dublin hospital and a teacher’s aide was in serious condition, police said. A 6-year-old girl continues to receive treatment for less serious injuries and another child was discharged overnight. The alleged assailant, who was tackled by witnesses, remains hospitalized in serious condition.

A burned out bus is removed from O’Connell Street in the aftermath of violent scenes in the city centre on Thursday evening, in Dublin, Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. 

Brian Lawless/PA via AP

Thursday’s unrest came amid rising tensions over immigration in Ireland that mirror trends in other parts of Europe. Earlier this year, people carrying signs reading “Ireland is full” demonstrated in Dublin and protesters blockaded a hotel housing asylum seekers in County Clare on the west coast.

An analysis of more than 13 million social media posts over the past three years found that right-wing groups were increasingly using platforms such as X, formerly known as Twitter, to stir up opposition to immigration. Recent activity has characterized the refugees and asylum seekers as an “existential threat to Ireland,” according to a report from the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, a London-based group that seeks to combat extremism.

Ireland received more than 141,000 immigrants in the 12 months through April, the highest total since 2007, the latest government statistics show. The influx of migrants drove an 11.7% increase in Ireland’s population over the past 11 years, contributing to a steady increase in housing prices.

When he was questioned about anti-immigration tensions earlier this year, Varadkar told Ireland’s parliament that there was always a place for peaceful protest, but violence, intimidation and racism were never legitimate.

“I think when it comes to this matter, we should never lose sight of the bigger picture — we’re facing a major refugee crisis not just here in Ireland but all across Europe,” he said in May.Commissioner Drew Harris, head of Ireland’s national police force, described those who took part in Thursday’s unrest as a “complete lunatic hooligan faction driven by far-right ideology.”

More than 400 officers, including many in riot gear, were deployed throughout the city center to contain the violence. A cordon was set up around the Irish Parliament building, Leinster House, and mounted officers were dispatched to nearby Grafton Street.

One officer was seriously injured in clashes with the rioters, some of whom were armed with metal bars and covered their faces.

“These (riots) 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,” Harris told reporters.

“But I don’t want to lose focus on the terrible event in terms of the dreadful assault on schoolchildren and their teacher. There’s a full investigation ongoing. There’s also a full investigation in respect on the disorder.”

Varadkar praised people of multiple nationalities who intervened to stop the attack as it unfolded, describing them as “real Irish heroes.”

One of them was Caio Benicio, a Brazilian delivery driver who stopped when he saw the teacher’s aide trying to save the children. Spotting a knife, he ripped off his helmet and slammed it into the attacker with all his strength.

“I pray for her to survive,” Benicio said of the child in critical condition. “I’m a parent myself, I have two kids and I know how hard it is.”

Benicio told Britain’s Press Association that the disturbances seemed to be caused by a “small group of people” who “wanted an excuse to do what they did.”

“I’m here for about 20 years now, I don’t know politics here deeply to have an opinion about it,” he said. “What I can say is I know the protest is against immigrants and for me it doesn’t make sense because I’m an immigrant myself and I was the one who helped out. For me it doesn’t make sense.”

Violence, looting as school stabbing triggers riots in Dublin, 34 arrested

Rioters could face prison sentence up to 12 years, says Justice Minister McEntee

Web Desk Updated: November 24, 2023 
Protesters vandalise a police vehicle before setting it on fire during a demonstration following a suspected stabbing that left few children injured in Dublin, Ireland | Reuters


The riot that broke out in Dublin after the stabbing incident, severely injuring three young children, turned violent with many including police officials injured. According to Irish Police, 34 were arrested in connection with the riot.

"Overall we have 34 arrests, 32 of which will be appearing before the courts this morning," Police Commissioner Drew Harris told a press conference.

Irish Justice Minister Helen McEntee described the situation as “very volatile”. “There could be prison sentences of up to 12 years for attacking gardai,” she said.

At least 100 people took to the strerts with some armed with metal bars and covering their faces on Thursday evening. The riot police had to intervene to calm the situation on the streets with the rioters torching the vehicles and attacking stores.

Following the attack outside a school, the girl was grievously injured and is currently receiving medical treatment in a Dublin hospital. The two others injured in the incident was also undergoing medical treatment.

Over 400 police officers were deployed in Dublin city centre to contain the unrest.

A police cordon was also set up around the Irish Parliament building, Leinster House, and officers from the Mounted Support Unit were in nearby Grafton Street.

A number of police vehicles and a tram were damaged during the clashes, while a bus and car were also set on fire on the city's O'Connell Bridge.

Several stores were looted amid the riots as well. Public transport in the city including trams and buses was suspended. Many companies urged their staff to work from home on Friday.

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

Police and politicians called for calm and warned against misinformation over the attack earlier in the day.

Justice Ministe said that the scenes we were witnessing this evening won't be tolerated.

Earlier the police had said that they have not ruled out the potential terrorist link as the motive behind the attack.

Irish police also said one police officer was seriously injured in Dublin riot.

After three young children was stabbed, it had sparked a night of rioting rarely seen before the capital.

Police blamed the far right agitators for starting the violence after a small group of anti-immigrant protesters arrived at the scene of the stabbing attack beside the main thoroughfare of O'Connell Street and clashed with police.

(With agencies inputs)

Far-right protesters burn and loot Dublin in worst violence ‘in decades’

By Karla Adam

November 24, 2023 

Riot police officers face down demonstrators next to a burning police car near a crime scene of a school stabbing that left several children and adults injured in Dublin on Thursday. (Clodagh Kilcoyne/Reuters)

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LONDON — Ireland’s police chief on Friday described the unrest in central Dublin, in which double-decker buses, trams and police cars were torched, as “scenes that we have not seen in decades.”

The violence and looting through some of Dublin’s most famous streets began after a stabbing attack outside a school that left five people hospitalized, including three young children and a woman. Police detained a man who is also being treated for injuries.

What police later identified as far-right protesters then took to the streets of Dublin, setting vehicles ablaze and clashing with police.

A fire blazes following a suspected stabbing that left several children injured in Dublin on Thursday. (Clodagh Kilcoyne/Reuters)

“What we saw last night was an extraordinary outbreak of violence,” Police Commissioner Drew Harris told reporters on Friday. “These are scenes that we have not seen in decades.”

He said that 34 people had been arrested.

Police blamed a “lunatic, hooligan faction driven by a far-right ideology” for the violence that broke out after a small group of anti-immigrant protesters arrived at the scene of the knife attack.

Protesters vandalize a police vehicle before setting it on fire during a demonstration following a suspected stabbing that left children injured in Dublin on Thursday. (Clodagh Kilcoyne/Reuters)

The “riotous mob” caused “huge destruction” in Dublin, police said, with some wielding metal bars. Rioters smashed windows and looted shops as they stormed through the city.

The Dublin Fire Brigade on Friday morning said firefighters were continuing to dampen down smoldering vehicles.

A bus on fire on O'Connell Street after violent scenes unfolded in Dublin city center on Thursday following a knife attack. (Brian Lawless/AP)

Police said they weren’t looking for anyone else involved in the knife attack and were “keeping an open mind” about any motive.

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar told reporters said that those involved in the riots “brought shame on Ireland.”

Irish police officers form a line to block a demonstration near the scene of an attack in Dublin city center on Thursday. (Brian Lawless/AP)

Dublin riots: Immigrant Deliveroo driver 'hit attacker with helmet' to save little girl

Caio Benicio, a Brazilian, said he acted out of 'pure instinct' when he stepped in to defend the child

Deliveroo driver Caio Benicio, who stopped a knife attacker outside a school


Gillian Duncan
Nov 24, 2023

A Brazilian Deliveroo driver who stepped in to defend a young girl from a knife attack in Dublin that sparked rioting has spoken out, saying: "It looks like they hate immigrants."

Caio Benicio, 43, said he was on his bike when he saw the attack unfold and immediately dismounted, took off his helmet and hit the man with it.

Tanaiste Micheal Martin praised Mr Benicio on Friday, saying his part “should not be forgotten” and said he may have saved other children from attack.

“We had a horrific, violent attack on children and adults, we think of them, and we think of the Deliveroo person who came along to save the situation, perhaps for other children,” he said.

Police officers near the scene from yesterday's stabbing in Dublin. 

Violence broke out in the wake of Thursday afternoon's attack after at least 100 people took to the streets, some with their faces covered and armed with metal bars.

It spiralled into a night of violence and disorder as buses, trams and at least one Garda vehicle were burnt and shops were looted on one of Dublin’s most famous throughfares, O’Connell Street.

There were clashes with riot police as some demonstrators let off flares and fireworks, while others flung chairs and stools grabbed from outside bars and restaurants.

Police blamed far-right agitators for starting the violence after a small group of anti-immigration protesters arrived at the scene of the stabbing and clashed with police.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar promised to use the full resources of the law and the full machinery of the state to punish those involved in the “grotesque events” in Dublin. He said measures will be put in place to ensure that any repeated attempts will meet the “full measure of the law”.

“As a country we need to reclaim Ireland, we need to take it away from the cowards who hide behind masks and try to terrify us with their violence,” he said.

“We need to reclaim Ireland from the unscrupulous who prey on the fears of those easily led into darkness and we need to reclaim Ireland from the criminals who seek any excuse to unleash harm on our streets.”

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris singled out a "complete lunatic faction driven by far-right ideology" for the disorder.

A police cordon was set up around the Irish parliament building, Leinster House, late on Thursday night with officers from the Garda Mounted Support Unit in nearby Grafton Street, as concerns rose that the violence may spread to the seat of Ireland's democratic institutions.

Shortly before midnight, gardai said calm had been restored in the city.

The five-year-old girl was seriously injured in the stabbing attack outside a school, which also left a woman and two other children injured.




















Mr Benicio said he acted on "pure instinct" when he intervened.

“I didn’t even make a decision, it was pure instinct, and it was all over in seconds. He fell to the ground, I didn’t see where the knife went, and other people stepped in,” he told Irish newspaper The Journal.

“I have two kids myself, so I had to do something. I did what anyone would do. People were there but they couldn’t step in because he was armed, but I knew I could use my helmet as a weapon.”

Mr Benicio said he was sad to see the outbreak of violence, adding: “It looks like they hate immigrants. Well I am an immigrant, and I did what I could to try and save that little girl."

Mr Benicio, who came to Ireland for work, said he hopes his children can join him one day.

Mr Martin condemned the rioting in Dublin, saying “this is not who we are as a people”.


Before a meeting of the British-Irish Council at Dublin Castle, the Tanaiste said in the first instance his thoughts are with the families of the children and adults who were injured in the knife attack.

Police officers work at the scene. Reuters

Turning to the later rioting, Mr Martin acknowledged people are “obviously very, very concerned” about “the lawlessness and the rioting that occurred last evening in our city”.

"Ireland has built a modern and inclusive society. It is something precious that we should all work to hold,” he said.

“We understand the need to respect others, the need to respect difference and the need to respect the dignity of every human being. This is something that we should hold precious and we should collectively, as a society, come together to recommit to those fundamental values.”

Police dispatched 400 officers, many of whom were in riot gear, to contain the unrest. Officers made 34 arrests. Police said convicted rioters could face prison sentences of up to 12 years.

Commissioner Harris said on Friday one Garda officer received a serious injury, with "numerous other members injured" when missiles were thrown at them.
The aftermath of the Dublin riots - in pictures

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris discusses the violence at a press conference in Dublin. PA

He said there was an “element of radicalisation” in the riots in Dublin on Thursday.

He told a press conference on Friday: “These are scenes that we have not seen in decades but what is clear is that people have been radicalised through social media and the internet."

He said 13 shops were significantly damaged or looted and 11 Garda cars were damaged during the chaotic scenes in the aftermath of a knife attack which left three young children and a woman injured.

Later, 32 people are to appear before court in the city.

The woman, a teacher in her 30s, also suffered serious injuries during the knife attack shortly after 1.30pm. The two other children, who are pupils at the school, a five-year-old boy and a six-year-old girl, sustained less serious injuries and the boy was discharged from hospital.

Police said preliminary indications suggest that the man attacked a number of people on Parnell Square East.

A man in his late 40s, also being treated for serious injuries, was arrested by police who said they were not looking for any other suspect.

Updated: November 24, 2023