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FLAMING STREETS
VIOLENT scenes continue to unfold tonight as yobs fire missiles and fireworks at Gardai in the wake of a horror stabbing attack in the area.
Cops are being attacked at the junction of Parnell Square and O'Connell St, where three children were attacked by a knifeman outside their school.
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Officers stationed near the crime scene have come under attack by a group of people tonight.
There have been reports of assaults, fireworks and missiles being lobbed at gardai.
Horror footage captured by witnesses near Parnell Street show a line of officers standing side by side as sparks fly, with one Garda appearing to go down in pain following a round of fireworks.
Another officer has reportedly been physically assaulted and protesters have also hurled bottles at cops.
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A Garda patrol car has been set on fire and left engulfed in flames to burn out as yobs yelled and swarmed around the flaming vehicle, filming the destruction.
A massive blaze is drawing a big crowd on O'Connell Street with a Dublin Bus vehicle in flames on the capital's main street.
A Luas tram has also been set on fire and is severely damaged.
Angry protesters have also broken into a Foot Locker and Arnotts and stolen items including clothes and shoes.
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Attackers have also destroyed other shop fronts and accommodation centres leaving shattered glass everywhere.
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris issued a statement on the "disgraceful scenes" unfolding in the city centre tonight and urged the group to go home.
He said: "I thinks there's disgraceful scenes in terms of a major investigation, the maintenance of a scene, the gathering of evidence.
"We have a complete lunatic hooligan faction driven by far right ideology and then this disruptive tendency here engaged in serious violence."
Commissioner Harris said more resources are being drafted in a bid to deal with the violent situation unfolding on Parnell Street.
The Garda Press Office said that gardai are trying to control "a live and active situation".
Increasing numbers of gardai have been deployed in the area, including the Public Order Unit.
However patrol vehicles attempting to arrive at the scenes are being met with groups of hooded people punching, kicking and swarming around the cars.
Footage on social media also shows yobs jumping on Garda cars and smashing windscreens.
All Luas services have been suspended and gardaí are closing access to Kildare St and Molesworth Street.
Riots have spread to Cathal Brugha St, where the group attacked a Holiday Inn hotel.
Riot police have geared up to clear some areas but many Dublin streets remain in flames.
'THUGGISH' BEHAVIOUR
Justice Minister Helen McEntee said the city centre violence by "a small number using an appalling incident to spread division will not be tolerated".
Appealing for the attacks to end, the Minister said: "The horrific attack today in Dublin City Centre was an appalling crime that has shocked us all.
"An Garda Síochána are following a definite line of inquiry and are not looking for anyone else regarding this crime. The perpetrator will be brought to justice.
"A thuggish and manipulative element must not be allowed use an appalling tragedy to wreak havoc.
"I have spoken to local TDs from all sides of the Dail and we are of the same view.
"We will not tolerate a small number using an appalling incident to spread division.
"I would appeal for calm in the city centre as An Garda Siochana carry out their work – attacks on members of An Garda Siochana must be utterly condemned and will be dealt with severely.
"I am meeting the Garda Commissioner this evening to discuss the policing plan in the city tonight.
"Most importantly, we must remember the real tragedy of today and allow the investigations take their course."
Tanaiste Micheal Martin said it is unacceptable that people are engaging in "wanton violence" on Dublin's streets tonight.
He appealed to people to stop and to allow gardai to continue with their investigation.
CRITICAL CONDITION
One of the young stabbing victims, a girl aged five, is critical after she suffered "serious injuries" in the attack outside a creche near Gaelscoil Coláiste Mhuire on Parnell Square East at around 1.30pm.
A woman who worked at the creche and cared for the kids tried to stop the attacker and was stabbed and seriously injured as a result.
Siobhan Kearney, who saw the horror unfold from across the street, described efforts from passersby to disarm the attacker.
She said: "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 absolutely bedlam."
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Ms Kearney then teamed up with an American woman to "form a circle around the man" while they waited for emergency services to arrive.
She told RTE: "People were trying to attack the man so me and an American lady formed a ring around the man and then about three minutes later the ambulance came for the children and another ambulance and fire officers came for the man on the ground."
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