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'APPALLING ATTACK'
Three kids and woman injured as knife attacker wrestled to ground after horror stabbings near Dublin school
Several individuals are understood to have intervened and disarmed the attacker at the scene.
A KNIFEMAN was wrestled to the ground after horror stabbings that left three children and a woman in hospital this afternoon.
One child, a girl aged five, is critical after she suffered "serious injuries" in the attack near a school in north-inner city Dublin and is getting emergency medical treatment at CHI Temple Street.
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The woman, a creche worker in her 30s who tried to defend the kids, is being treated for serious injuries at the Mater Hospital.
Two other children, a boy aged five and a girl aged six, were treated for less serious injuries at CHI Crumlin. The boy has since been discharged.
It is understood the children were among a group lining up outside a creche near Gaelscoil Coláiste Mhuire on Parnell Square East at around 1.30pm, when a man started attacking them with a knife.
A woman who worked at the creche and cared for the kids tried to stop him and was stabbed and seriously injured as a result.
One witness reported that several other individuals intervened, wrestled the man to the ground and disarmed the attacker at the scene.
The man was restrained until gardai arrived. Medical staff from the nearby Rotunda Hospital also attended the scene.
The man, aged in his 50s, is currently being treated for serious injuries at a Dublin hospital.
An Garda Siochana is in contact with parents of all three injured children and is providing support.
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Eyewitness Siobhan Kearney told RTE that she saw the shocking incident unfold from across the road and ran to help after hearing those hurt in the incident were victims of a stabbing.
She said: "Without thinking, I just took across the road to help out. We got another young man, disarmed him [the attacker] with the knife, another man took the knife and put it away for the garda to find it.
"Two children and the woman were taken back into the school where they were coming from. It was absolute bedlam."
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Siobhan explained that a lot of people tried to restrain the attacker, who was on the ground before emergency services arrived at the scene within five minutes.
She explained: "Me and an American lady formed a ring around him saying we'd wait on the Garda."
Gardai have confirmed that they are following "a definite line of inquiry" and are not looking for any other person at this time.
It is believed the incident is not terror related, however Garda Commissioner Drew Harris has said that he is not ruling any motivation for today's attack in or out.
He said: "In effect, the investigation has to examine any and all motivations, I'm not ruling any motivation in or out at this moment in time.
"Too early to say, but what we can say is that an individual has been arrested, we're not seeking anyone else in respect of this incident itself at this moment in time but the investigation will obviously unfold."
Mr Harris also said he is not going to comment on the nationality of the suspect, adding that there has been a "huge amount" of speculation online on that subject.
He said the motive behind the attack will be part of the investigation.
He added: "I'm not going to characterise it as any particular type of incident or give it a character.
"Obviously the circumstances and motivation behind this incident will be very important in terms of the investigation that will unfold.
"It's too early to say it's either this or the other, it's a live investigation and part of that obviously is to determine the motivation."
The Garda Commissioner also confirmed that members of the public intervened to apprehend the suspect.
"Yes indeed, it would appear that following the actual incident itself and as part of the incident itself members of the public who were passing by intervened and in effect then grappled with this individual and that allowed gardai on arrival to arrest that individual."
Meanwhile, Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said her thoughts are with all those who were injured in the "appalling attack" in the capital today.
In a statement this afternoon, she said: "I am deeply shocked by the appalling attack on three innocent children and a woman in Dublin today.
"All our thoughts are with those injured, especially with the children, their parents and families, during this extremely difficult period.
"I have been briefed by the Garda Commissioner and will remain in close contact with him and senior Gardaí.
"It is my understanding that Gardaí are following a definite line of inquiry and are not looking for any other person at this time."
And she said she has "no doubt" the person responsible for the attack will be brought to justice.
Ms McEntee added: "This attack has shocked us all, and I have no doubt that the person responsible will be brought to justice.
"However, my thoughts now are with the innocent children and the woman who have been attacked, their families, and those who are caring for them at this time."
FACTS 'STILL EMERGING'
Five ambulances and four Dublin Fire Brigade vehicles rushed to the scene of the major incident, which has been sealed off and declared a crime scene.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar commended the emergency services and Gardai for their quick response to the incident.
He said: “We are all shocked by the incident which has taken place in Parnell Square.
"A number of people have been injured, some of them children. Our thoughts and our prayers go out to them and their families.
"I have been in contact with the Minister for Justice who is keeping me updated. The facts in this matter are still emerging.
"The emergency services responded very quickly and were on site within minutes. I thank them for that.
"Gardaí have detained a suspect and are following a definite line of inquiry."
Tanaiste Micheal Martin said he is "deeply shocked" by news of the incident.
He said: "Our thoughts and prayers are with all those injured, their families, friends and the emergency services who responded so quicky at the scene."
Education Minister Norma Foley said: "I wish to express my deepest sympathies to the three children and the woman who were viciously attacked in Dublin.
"Our hearts and minds go out to all who were injured today and to all of their families, as well as all the staff who care for them in the school and in their crèche.
"The National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) is providing support to the school community."
In a statement this afternoon, Gardai said: "Preliminary indications are that a male attacked a number of people on Parnell Square East.
"Five (5) casualties have been taken to hospitals in the Dublin Region. These casualties include three (3) young children, an adult female and an adult male.
"One girl aged 5 has sustained serious injuries and is currently receiving emergency medical treatment in CHI Temple Street.
"A boy aged 5 and a girl aged 6 years, who received less serious injuries were brought to CHI Crumlin for treatment. The boy has since been discharged from CHI Crumlin.
"An Garda Síochána is providing support to the children's parents.
"The adult female in her 30s is being treated for serious injuries at the Mater Hospital.
"An adult male in his 50s is also being treated for serious injuries at a Hospital in the Dublin Region.
"The scene remains sealed off at this time and a technical examination of the scene is ongoing.
"An incident room has been established at Mountjoy Garda Station and a Senior Investigating Officer has been appointed.
"An Garda Síochána is following a definite line of inquiry. The male in his 50s is a person of interest in this investigation. An Garda Síochána is not looking for any other person at this time.
"An Garda Síochána continues to have an open mind at this early stage of the investigation.
"An Garda Síochána is appealing to any person with any information on this attack to contact investigating Gardaí. Investigating Gardaí are also appealing to any person who may have mobile phone footage of the attack or the immediate aftermath to make this footage available to An Garda Síochána.
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"Anyone with information is asked to contact Mountjoy Garda Station 01 6668600 the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.
"An Garda Síochána are not in a position to provide any further information at this early stage of the investigation."
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