The Tánaiste has warned of the risk of asylum seekers being murdered after they were targeted in Dublin last night.

The tents of 15 men sleeping rough were slashed with knives and poles along the city quays shortly before midnight.

Many had their documents thrown into the River Liffey and were forced to flee to Pearse Street Garda station where they later made statements.

It is understood the 15 men had made their way from Phibsborough after being moved on from another makeshift camp there.

Murder risk

Speaking in Kenya today, Tánaiste Micheál Martin condemned the attack and warned of an escalation.

“Already we have cases of people from different countries being murdered in Ireland,” he said.

“I don't want to pre-empt certain cases that may be before the courts, but I was approached at one European foreign minister's meeting in terms of a citizen of another European country as to circumstances around the death of that individual.

“That’s now before the courts and people have been arrested.”

Main image: A sleeping bag and an empty packet of cigarettes on the quays today. Photograph: Leah Farrell / © RollingNews.ie

The Tánaiste described the attack as “reprehensible.”

“We should not ever allow ourselves to get to the level where we witness such attacks on fellow human beings, irrespective of how people have come into the country,” he said.

“It has to be condemned utterly, that people would undermine the dignity of fellow human beings, be they in tents or in whatever location.

“We have to resist this. As a society, we have to resist this as strongly as we possibly can.

“We cannot create excuses for it, attempt to justify it or rationalise it in any way – it’s just not good enough and it’s not what Irish people are about.”

'I have nothing'

One man who arrived from Nigeria on Monday, and did not wish to be named, told Newstalk the attack was terrifying.

“He just threw my bag, my phone, and everything in the tent, he threw them in the water, so I have nothing left – nothing," he said.

"I'm really stranded. The whole thing now is I'm trying to get a device that I can use to access my email because we are sent a lot of details on the email.

“I just want them to understand that we are all humans, and we all deserve a chance to life.”

Documents

Grainne, a volunteer who works with homeless asylum seekers, said it's crucial these men have their paperwork.

“If you're an international protection applicant, documents are hugely important because it proves your identity, it proves where you're from,” she said.

“This is what will help you get asylum, so it's very serious losing your documents.”

Reporting from Andrew Lowth and Sheila Naughton. 

Main image: Tánaiste Micheál Martin on his way into Cabinet, 27-03-2024. Image: Leah Farrell/RollingNews