Irish police have arrested 34 people after violent protests in the Irish capital Dublin on Thursday evening. Police Commissioner Drew Harris said during a press conference that 32 of them were expected to appear in court on Friday morning. International news agencies report this. According to him “a group of insane hooligans, driven by extreme right-wing ideology” was responsible for the excessive violence.
Although the police have not yet announced the nationality of the suspected perpetrator, there was soon speculation online that he has a migration background. Young people who joined the demonstrators shouted “get them out of here”. Someone also carried a sign reading ‘Irish Lives Matter’. The Irish Prime Minister indicated that his government is taking immediate steps to tighten hate speech laws. According to him, they are unsuitable for this age of social media.
The riots broke out after a stabbing on Thursday. A man injured three children and a woman in the middle of the street in central Dublin. One of the children (5) and the woman had to be treated in hospital for serious injuries. They are still in critical condition. After the attack, hundreds of people took to the streets.
According to the Irish police, the resulting unrest was subsequently used for looting. The angry crowd destroyed or looted thirteen shops and eleven police vehicles were attacked or set on fire. A police officer was seriously injured. Harris spoke of “unprecedented violence” that Ireland had not seen in decades.