A five-year-old child and a woman in her 30s are in a serious condition in hospital after they were attacked and stabbed in Dublin city centre this afternoon.
Two other young children are also in hospital with minor injuries, as is a man who is being treated for serious injuries. One of these children - a boy - has since been discharged.
The man, who is in his 40s, was arrested at the scene by gardaí before being brought to hospital with injuries that have been described as serious.
At around 1.30pm, a group of young children were lining up outside a school on Parnell Square East.
A man arrived and began attacking the children with a knife.
The five-year-old girl was stabbed and seriously injured. She underwent emergency treatment in Temple St hospital.
The two other children, a boy and a girl aged five and six, were also attacked and suffered minor injuries.
They were both taken to Crumlin Hospital, with the boy later being discharged.
The woman, who worked at the school and cared for the children, intervened and was also stabbed and seriously injured.
She is currently in the Mater Hospital.
A number of other people also intervened and the man was restrained at the scene until gardaí and the emergency services arrived.
Medical staff rushed from the nearby Rotunda Hospital to help.
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Gardaí are at the hospital where the man is being treated.
Gardaí say they are following a "definite line of enquiry" and are not looking for anyone else at present.
Read more: 'Absolute bedlam' - Witness details city centre attack
Parnell Square East was busy at the time. A transit route for buses, the Luas and shoppers, it is also the location of the Gaelscoil Coláiste Mhuire.
The area was declared a crime scene and was sealed off for a forensic examination this evening.
Gardaí are trying to establish a motive for the attack but do not suspect any terrorist motivation and believe this is an isolated self-contained incident which is now under control.
Gardaí at Mountjoy have appealed to anyone with information to come forward.
Parnell Street incident 'very shocking' - Garda Commissioner
Earlier, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said that gardaí are looking for no one else in relation to the incident.
Speaking at a Policing Authority meeting in Waterford, Commissioner Harris described the incident as "very shocking" and said that news is breaking around what happened.
He said: "Just in the first place, I want to reassure people that a full garda operation swung into place, both in terms of the investigation but also the identification of a suspect and I can say that we are seeking no one else in relation to this incident.
"It's the subject obviously of a full crime investigation, both at the scene but obviously then the follow-on investigation as well."
Mr Harris said he is not ruling any motivation for attack in or out.
He said the motive behind the attack will be part of the investigation and confirmed that members of the public intervened to apprehend the suspect.
Mr Harris said: "Yes indeed, it would appear that following the actual incident itself and as part of the incident itself members of the public who were passing by intervened and in effect then grappled with this individual and that allowed gardaí on arrival to arrest that individual."
Following the incident, widespread unrest spread across the area of Dublin city centre.
Gardaí say the scenes tonight were being driven by a far right element whipping up anger and shouting anti-immigrant slogans, because they suspect the attack was carried out by a foreign national.
However, it is understood the suspect, who is being treated in hospital, is an Irish citizen who came to this country over 20 years ago.
Attack 'shocked us all'
In a statement, Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said that she is "deeply shocked by the appalling attack on three innocent children and a woman in Dublin today".
Ms McEntee said that her thoughts are with those injured, especially with the children, their parents and families, during "this extremely difficult period".
"I have been briefed by the Garda Commissioner and will remain in close contact with him and senior gardaí," she said.
"This attack has shocked us all, and I have no doubt that the person responsible will be brought to justice.
"However, my thoughts now are with the innocent children and the woman who have been attacked, their families, and those who are caring for them at this time," she said.
In a statement, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar thanked emergency services for their fast response.
"I have been in contact with the Minister for Justice who is keeping me updated," Mr Varadkar said.
"The facts in this matter are still emerging. The emergency services responded very quickly and were on site within minutes. I thank them for that."
Tánaiste Micheál Martin said he is "deeply shocked" at the incident.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with all those injured, their families, friends and the emergency services who responded so quicky at the scene," he posted on the social media platform X.
Minister for Education, Norma Foley TD said that she wishes to express her deepest sympathies to the three children and the woman who were "viciously attacked" in Dublin.
"Our hearts and minds go out to all who were injured today and to all of their families, as well as all the staff who care for them in the school and in their crèche," she said.
