Violence, looting, and riots broke out in the Irish capital of Dublin last week after three children and a school assistant were stabbed.
Police have blamed “hooligan” gangs driven by “far-right ideology”, after social media users spread rumours about the alleged attacker’s nationality.
The Government has indicated it could intoduce new laws to enable facial recognition technology to identify those involved in the riots.
What happened?
Last week, three children and a 30-year-old school assistant were stabbed in Parnell Square East, near Dublin’s city centre.
Meanwhile, another man in his 50s also suffered injuries. Police said he is a person of interest in their investigation into the alleged attack.
Police have ruled out terrorism as a reason for the attack.
Riots
Riots broke out in Dublin on Thursday, hours after anti-immigrant sentiments began spreading online, speculating the alleged attacker’s nationality.
Photos and videos showed burning cars, smashed glass shop fronts, and damaged properties. Some rioters had tried to disrupt the police’s crime scene.
Following the riots, law enforcement and political leaders accused far-right groups of weaponising “misinformation” to “wreak havoc” in Dublin.
Aftermath
Riot police have arrested 34 people. At least one injured police officer was taken to hospital.
Ireland’s police commissioner Drew Harris blamed the disruption on a “lunatic hooligan faction driven by far-right ideology”. Additionally, he said the group made “hateful assumptions” based on unverified claims.
Ireland’s Opposition Leader Mary Lou MacDonald has also accused rioters of “unleashing destruction, menace and fear”.
Next steps
Ireland’s Justice Minister Helen McEntee has vowed to introduce new laws to help police with their investigation. She proposed introducing facial recognition technology in Dublin to identify rioters.
“Police shouldn’t have to trawl through thousands of hours of CCTV to identify thugs who are intent on wreaking havoc,” she said.
