Riots Erupt in Dublin After Children Stabbed

Riots erupted in Dublin on Thursday after children were stabbed outside a school amid rumors that the assailant is a foreign national, according to Raidió Teilifís Éireann, Ireland's public media outlet.

The violence began when a man approached children outside a school and began stabbing them, leaving a 5-year-old girl and a woman in her 30s with serious injuries.

A man in his late 40s or 50s reportedly attacked the children at about 1:30 p.m. local time as they lined up outside a school on Parnell Square East in the city. A 6-year-old girl and a 5-year-old boy suffered less-serious injuries in the attack. Passers-by subdued the attacker, who was hospitalized with injuries. Police have not released details on the identity of the alleged attacker.

Violence spread across the city as rumors spread that the assailant is an immigrant. Gardai (Irish police) said the incident was not an act of terrorism. Rioters set the Finglas immigration center on fire, while a double-decker bus and cars were set ablaze on O'Connell Bridge. Riot police in the city were deployed to quell the violence.

Garda Commissioner Draw Harris said the violence is coming from a "lunatic, hooligan faction driven by far-right ideology," according to the Irish Times, while Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said a "thuggish and manipulative element" was using the stabbing as an excuse to wreak havoc."

As videos of the violence spread across the social media, some were outraged, while others, including MMA fighter Conor McGregor, voiced disappointment in the police reaction in the aftermath of the riots.

"Innocent children ruthlessly stabbed by a mentally deranged non-national in Dublin, Ireland today," McGregor tweeted. "Our chief of police had this to say on the riots in the aftermath. Drew, not good enough. There is grave danger among us in Ireland that should never be here in the first place, and there has been zero action done to support the public in any way, shape or form with this frightening fact. NOT GOOD ENOUGH. Make change or make way. Ireland for the victory. God bless those attacked today, we pray."

On X, formerly Twitter, Yokiiiiiiioooo said: "It's for the government to deport all Muslims extremists."

Others took to X to decry the violence.

Irish musician Rob Smith of the band The Swedish Railway Orchestra said: "The riots and looting taking place all over Dublin is some shameful stuff by some of the absolute most sinister people in our country. A dark day in Ireland."