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Authorities in Ireland are currently reviewing 6,000 hours of CCTV recordings as they conduct a significant inquiry into the riots that occurred in Dublin’s downtown area.
The violence in the Irish capital on Thursday – which involved far-right elements and saw Garda cars, buses and trams set alight and shops looted and damaged – flared after a knife attack on three children and their care assistant outside a school in the north inner city.
On Friday evening, there were a few arrests as police implemented a major security operation in the O’Connell Street area to prevent a recurrence of the previous night’s violent incidents.
In the midst of disapproval towards the Garda’s handling of the riots, government officials convened and were informed that a law to enable police officers to use body-worn cameras will be accelerated.
Helen McEntee, the minister of justice, informed her colleagues that authorities are currently reviewing 6,000 hours of CCTV footage and promised that more individuals would be arrested in addition to the 34 who have already been detained.
She emphasized that the police have adequate resources to ensure the safety of Dublin residents during the weekend, including obtaining two water cannons from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).
Ms. McEntee declined a request from Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald for both her and Garda commissioner Drew Harris to step down.
She stated: “Should Sinn Fein desire to discuss matters of law and order, or the means by which we can assist the gardai, I have no issue with standing by Fine Gael’s track record of promoting law and order and supporting An Garda Siochana members.”
“I do not think Sinn Fein can justify their track record.”
Ms McDonald stated that there was a “dramatic and unprecedented decline in law enforcement” and that an issue that contributed to the riot on Thursday had been developing for several months.
Leo Varadkar, the Irish Prime Minister, stated that the destruction of public infrastructure in Dublin caused by the disorder could result in repair costs of tens of millions of euros.
He stated that the knife assault and ensuing aggression had brought disgrace upon Ireland.
A young girl, aged five, who was harmed in a stabbing outside a school, remains in critical condition in the hospital as of Friday. The female caretaker, in her 30s, is also in serious condition.
The remaining two children, a five-year-old boy and a six-year-old girl, sustained less severe injuries. The girl is still hospitalized as of Friday, but the boy has already been released.
The authorities stated that a male individual, who suffered severe injuries at the location, is a suspect in their inquiry.
Politicians and law enforcement have praised the bravery of bystanders who stepped in to stop the assailant at Parnell Square East, including a Deliveroo driver from Brazil.
Source: independent.co.uk
