A police van was set ablaze last night amid escalating unrest related to anti-immigration sentiments. Reports indicate that a young girl was among the injured individuals in the chaos near Citywest Hotel in Saggart, County Dublin, following an alleged child sexual assault incident.
During the disturbance, individuals targeted police guarding the hotel, which currently accommodates migrants, resulting in the violent torching of a police vehicle. Videos circulating online captured young men shouting “Get them out” while hurling objects at the officers.
In response to the situation, six individuals were apprehended, and the Irish police service, An Garda Siochana, disclosed that one officer sustained a foot injury during the tumult, emphasizing that the events did not constitute peaceful protest but rather acts of aggression and intimidation.
The initial sexual assault occurrence occurred in the vicinity of the hotel early Monday, prompting locals to plan a protest for Tuesday evening, which unfortunately escalated into disturbances by around 9 pm.
Footage from the incident shows individuals, some masked and waving Irish flags, engaging in chants before resorting to pelting stones and other objects at police officers. Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly condemned the violence, labeling it as an orchestrated assault against law enforcement.
Addressing the situation, Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan vowed to hold those responsible for the violence accountable, denouncing the disorderly acts witnessed outside the hotel. The minister stressed that such behavior, including the hurling of missiles and setting police vehicles ablaze, will not go unpunished.
The events at Citywest echo similar incidents in various UK locations during the summer, albeit with counter-protests led by anti-racism groups in cities like Bristol and Liverpool.