Protests against the government’s immigration policy broke out in the Irish capital Dublin for the third consecutive day on Wednesday evening. It was the second night that the protests turned into violence against the police. On Wednesday evening, about five hundred people – mainly young men – were out in force, throwing stones, torches and bottles at the police. Two police officers were injured, including a woman who was apparently hit in the face with a bottle, writes The Irish Times.
Police have arrested 23 people and set up a major police operation around the asylum seeker center where the protests took place, to protect the asylum seekers staying there.
In the night from Sunday to Monday, a 10-year-old girl was sexually assaulted near the asylum centre. She was in youth care and had run away during a recreational outing in central Dublin on Sunday and was reported missing, the care organization said. Irish law does not allow the suspect’s name or nationality to be published in such cases, but it emerged on Tuesday that the 26-year-old suspect needs an Arabic-speaking translator and is receiving free legal aid because he is out of work.
Protests sparked online
Far-right British activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, known online as Tommy Robinson, wrote on his X account with 1.7 million followers on Monday that the perpetrator is an “African invader”. And the leader of Sinn Féin, the nationalist opposition party, said a deportation order had long been issued for the suspect. Police say plans for a violent protest in internet communities were made by “disparate groups fueling hatred and violence.”
Starting on Tuesday, the protests took a violent turn. A police car was set on fire, and protesters tried to blind the pilot of a police helicopter with a laser beam. At least one young man tried — literally — to break through the police formation in front of the asylum seeker center with a horse and cart. On Tuesday, the police arrested six people for public violence.
Also read
Tensions in Ireland are rising due to increased migration from the UK: ‘I no longer recognize my own city’
NEW: Give this item as a gift
As an NRC subscriber you can subscribe every month 10 items give as a gift to someone without an NRC subscription. The recipient can read the article directly, without a paywall.