Violent anti-immigrant clashes broke out in the Irish capital of Dublin on Thursday. At least 2,000 protesters fought with the police outside a hostel housing asylum seekers.
The demonstration broke out after an alleged sexual assault on a young girl by an unnamed immigrant. The protesters hurled bottles and launched fireworks at the police. The crowd also burnt a police vehicle.
Reports suggest that some police personnel were injured in the clashes.
The Irish police have arrested over six people who engaged in the violence.
Sexual assault on a girl
The Thursday disturbance flared a day after reports of sexual assault on a girl by an immigrant surfaced. The 26-year-old man, whose identity has not been revealed, sexually assaulted a 10-year-old girl near the Citywest hotel.
The girl was reportedly in government care when the incident happened.
The girl landed in state care after she “absconded” from a trip to the city centre, according to Ireland’s child and family agency.
The police have not revealed the ethnicity of the accused. However, during the court appearance on Tuesday, he asked for a Romanian interpreter.
Raising anti-immigrant protests
Ireland's government and police condemned the protests, against the accused who was an asylum seeker.
The police commissioner Justin Kelly said "This was obviously not a peaceful protest."
Kelly added "The actions this evening can only be described as thuggery. This was a mob intent on violence against Gardai."
Anti-immigrant protests have been on the rise in Ireland in recent years.
In 2023, Dublin witnessed riots after a man stabbed three children. The accused was reportedly an Algerian.
A
crowd of far-right group took to the streets after the stabbing and burned vehicles and attacked riot police. Over 400 police personnel were deployed to contain the violence. The police had arrested at least 44 people following the clashes.
In June this year, violence erupted in Ballymena in Northern Ireland. Protesters targeted foreigners after an alleged sexual assault case surfaced.
