An eyewitness has described the 'complete and utter pandemonium' on Dublin's Parnell Square minutes after a woman and three young children were injured in a suspected stabbing attack this afternoon.
It happened shortly after 1:30 pm this afternoon near Gaelscoil Coláiste Mhuire on Parnell Square East.
Gardaí say a total of five people have been taken to different Dublin hospitals to be treated for their injuries after the incident.
One young girl has suffered critical injuries, while two other children are being treated for less serious injuries.
The woman is also being treated for serious injuries.
This evening, a man who arrived on-scene minutes after the attack described what he saw.
"When I walked down the road, there was about three or four people around a little girl who was on her back," he said.
"I'm trained [in] First Aid so I ran over and said, 'Does anyone need first aid?'
"A lady said, 'No there's a nurse here' and people were very, very confused.
"People very quickly saw a lot of blood I think, and then there was just complete and utter pandemonium," he said.
'Horrific'
He said people were “wailing and screaming” as they waited for the ambulances to arrive.
“There was no authorities there at this stage,” he said.
“I might have come on to the scene maybe at 30 seconds, a minute, two [or] five minutes - I don't know".
The man said CPR was then administered to the girl.
"I only saw one child," he said.
"There was a man on his side with blood coming out of his mouth maybe about five or 10 metres down closer towards O'Connell Street.
"It was just complete and utter pandemonium.”
He said Gardaí and emergency services arrived soon after.
"I've never seen anything so horrific."
Gardaí and emergency services at the scene of a serious incident on Parnell Square East in Dublin city centre, 23/11/2023. Image: Sasko Lazarov / © RollingNews.ieIt is understood that a man first attacked a woman near the school before attacking the children.
He also sustained injuries and is now being treated in hospital, where Gardaí are waiting to speak to him.
Gardaí say they are following a “definite line of inquiry” and are not looking for anyone else at this time.
Gardaí are in contact with the parents of all three injured children.
Justice Minister helen McEntee has expressed her "deep shock" at the “appalling attack".
“This attack has shocked us all and I have no doubt that the person responsible will be brought to justice,” she said.
She said her thoughts are with the injured, especially the children, and their families.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar also expressed his shock at the incident and paid tribute to the emergency services who were on the scene "within minutes".
