Terror in Ireland: a lone attacker stabbed three children and a woman in the heart of Dublin, in front of a primary school, before ending up injured and blocked by several passers-by.
It all took place in the early afternoon, after the end of lessons, at the time of leaving the school, the Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire, in the central Parnell Square. According to the story of those who witnessed the raid, the man armed with a knife, a 50-year-old, first attacked the woman, a teacher in her early 30s, then against three children around the age of 6.
Until he was surrounded and knocked down even before the arrival of the officers who, within a few minutes, took him into custody.
A little girl and the teacher who intervened to try to act as a shield suffered injuries defined as "serious" by the doctors. The other two schoolchildren were also hospitalized, but in less worrying conditions.
The individual identified as the assailant - his details were not disclosed - is being held in hospital under arrest: according to the Irish Times online, he apparently inflicted some wounds on himself. However, local police declared a "serious accident" alert in the capital and closed the surrounding streets to traffic for hours as part of the investigation.
The Garda, the Irish police, initially dismissed the terrorist trail; only to then specify that he does not want to exclude "any motive" a priori for now. In the evening there was a protest in the square by groups of supporters of the nationalist right, convinced that there was a link with Islam or migrants behind the incident. A police car was set on fire.
The Irish Prime Minister, Leo Varadkar, meanwhile said he was troubled and addressed his thoughts to the victims and their families.
(Unioneonline/D)
