Violence has flared in Dublin after a five-year-old schoolgirl was among three children and two adults stabbed near a school.
Garda were called to Parnell Square East in the north of the city centre on Thursday afternoon following reports of an incident near a school. Three children, a five-year-old girl, five-year-old boy and a six-year-old girl, along with an adult woman and a man in his 50s, were injured in the attack, with police confirming a knife was used.
The five-year-old girl is undergoing emergency treatment for her injuries. The woman was also seriously injured while the two other children, sustained less serious injuries.
READ MORE: How old Ashley Dale's killers will be before they are released from prison
READ MORE: Ashley Dale's dad said 'history has repeated itself' after second child shot dead
At a press conference on Thursday afternoon Garda said a man who sustained serious injuries is a person of interest in their investigation. Garda Superintendent Liam Geraghty added they were keeping an open mind in terms of the investigation but were "satisfied there is no terrorist link".
Following the incident a Garda public order unit was deployed in the area around Parnell Square, Parnell Street and O'Connell Street as protesters started to scuffle with officers and flares and fireworks were thrown at the cordon. As the violence escalated, a bus and car were set on fire on O'Connell Bridge in the heart of the city centre.
The Luas trams service was suspended after coming under attack. Rioters looted a Foot Locker store on O'Connell Street as bottles were thrown at gardai on the famous Dublin street.
We'll be bringing you the very latest updates, pictures and video on this breaking news story.
For the latest news and breaking news visit liverpoolecho.co.uk/news
Get all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you by signing up to our daily and breaking newsletter. Sign up to our breaking news newsletter here.
Follow us on Twitter @LivECHONews - the official Liverpool ECHO Twitter account - real news in real time.
We're also on Facebook/theliverpoolecho - your must-see news, features, videos and pictures throughout the day from the Liverpool ECHO.
Gardai ask anyone at Anne-Marie concert in 3Arena not to return to city centre
Gardai have asked concert-goers at Anne-Marie in the 3Arena tonight to not return to the city centre.
They said: "Gardaí are requesting patrons from the 3Arena not to return to Dublin City Centre this evening after tonight's event.
"Luas is not serving the 3Arena this evening. Drivers are requested to utilise the Dublin Tunnel."
Bins being set on fire
Bins have been set on fire in parts of Dublin city centre as rioters also smashed windows of commercial premises.
Debris was littered across several roads.
Rioters threw traffic cones at cars which were stopped at a blocked junction.
Irish Defence Forces confirm they've not been deployed
The Irish Defence Forces have clarified images circulating on social media "are not from this evening but from a separate routine operation".
Images on social media showing army personnel carriers in Dublin had led to speculation soldiers were deployed in the city.
A spokesperson said: "Images circulating of Defence Forces vehicles in Dublin City Centre are not from this evening, but from a separate routine operation and have no connection to this evening's events. We ask everyone to be sensitive to the spreading disinformation, and to take care."
Trinity College Dublin told to close gates by police
An update on its Facebook page said: "Because of the disturbances in Dublin city centre Gardai have instructed Trinity College Dublin to close all gates. Kinsella Hall, GMB and 1937 Reading Room remain open to keep students and staff safe.
"Please stay safe. We will keep you updated."
Foot Locker store raided
The Luas trams service was suspended after coming under attack. Rioters looted a Foot Locker store on O'Connell Steet as bottles were thrown at Garda on the famous Dublin street.
Garda public order unit deployed
Following the incident A Garda public order unit was deployed in the area around Parnell Square, Parnell Street and O'Connell Street as protesters started to scuffles with officers and flares and fireworks were thrown at the Garda cordon. As the violence escalated, a bus and car were set on fire on O'Connell Bridge in the heart of the city centre.
The Luas trams service was suspended after coming under attack. Rioters looted a Foot Locker store on O'Connell Steet as bottles were thrown at gardai on the famous Dublin street.
Other people carried metal bars and smashed shop windows.
"Severe disruption" for people in Dublin city centre
The violence in Dublin city centre has caused severe disruption for vehicles and pedestrians.
Roads around the O'Connell Street have been blocked by public-order gardai.
On a nearby bridge over the River Liffey from Tara Street, protesters blocked the road with construction signs and barriers.
A traffic light was also smashed at the gridlocked junction.
Bus and car set on fire in city
Following the incident A Garda public order unit was deployed in the area around Parnell Square, Parnell Street and O'Connell Street as protesters started to scuffles with officers and flares and fireworks were thrown at the Garda cordon. As the violence escalated, a bus and car were set on fire on O'Connell Bridge in the heart of the city centre.
Condition of three children hurt in stabbing
Police have confirmed the a five-year-old girl is undergoing emergency treatment for her injuries in hopsital. The two other children, a five-year-old boy and six-year-old girl were not as severly injured.
The little boy has since been discharged from hopsital.
Motive for attack "not clear"
Earlier today Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said the motive for the attack was "not clear". Garda later added they were "satisfied there is no terrorist link" but were keeping an open mind in terms of the investigation.
Woman saw "man attacking children" with knife
Siobhan Kearney said she witnessed what she believes was a man attacking children, describing what she saw as "absolutely bedlam". Ms Kearney told RTE she watched people disarm a man who she said had a knife.
She said: "I looked across the road and I see the man and the stabbing motion with a load of children so I flew across the road."
"The man was after stabbing two children as far as I could make out, and we got the children up to the left with the women that were there, and the teachers I presume.
"People were trying to attack the man so me and an American lady, we formed a ring around the man, and then about three minutes later the ambulance came for the children and then another ambulance and fire officers came for the man on the ground."
Five injured after attack involving knife near school
Garda were called to Parnell Square East in the north of the city centre on Thursday afternoon following reports of an incident near a school. It was initially reported a man attacked a number of people in the area.
Five casualties have been taken to hospitals in the Dublin region. These casualties include three young children, an adult woman and an adult man.
One girl, aged five years, has sustained serious injuries and is currently receiving emergency medical treatment in CHI Temple Street.
Garda Superintendent Liam Geraghty: "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."
He added: "We're aware that the public are concerned about the activities that have happened today. The message to them is that we believe that this is a standalone incident, not necessarily connected to any wider issues that are ongoing in the country or in the city, and we need to identify the exact reasons for that happening.
"So we'd ask for people not to jump to conclusions and not to make rash judgments on what may have happened."
