Three children injured in attack in Dublin

Five people, including three young children, were injured near a Dublin school on Thursday, police said, in what the country’s justice minister described as “an appalling attack”.

According to a spokeswoman for the Garda Síochána, the Irish police, a suspect in the case was in custody – an adult man, himself injured. She added that investigators were following a clear line of inquiry and were not looking for other suspects.

The arrested man suffered “less serious” injuries, police said in a statement, but they declined to say what type of weapon was used or provide information on the nature of the injuries. A witness who spoke to Irish public broadcaster RTÉ described seeing a man with a knife being disarmed by “another young man.”

Police added that an adult woman and a girl suffered serious injuries, while the other two children were treated for less serious injuries. They said the event, which they described as ‘a serious public order incident’, took place in Parnell Square East, in central Dublin, shortly after 1.30pm.

“I am deeply shocked by the horrific attack on three innocent children and a woman in Dublin today,” said Irish Justice Minister Helen McEntee. said in a statement.

The five injured people were taken to hospitals in the Dublin area, according to police, who said they had been in contact with all the children’s parents.