WATCH: Garda car set alight during violent disturbances in Dublin

A GARDA car has been set alight in Dublin city centre during violent scenes in the aftermath of a vicious attack which left several people, including a young girl with serious injuries.

It is also believed that at least one garda has been physically assaulted during the disturbances close to the junction of O'Connell Street and Parnell Square East.

It's reported that some protesters have been involved in scuffles with gardaí, while others threw bottles at officers.

Footage posted on social media by Irish Independent journalist Adrian Weckler shows a man wearing a hoodie and face covering carrying a burning cardboard box and placing it on the back seat of a parked garda car.

Parnell Street right now pic.twitter.com/vfY6lRfscO

— Adrian Weckler (@adrianweckler) November 23, 2023

Speaking at a media briefing this Thursday evening, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris described the protests as "disgraceful". He told reporters that gardai believe a "hooligan faction driven by far right ideology" had contributed to the trouble.

The violent protests, which have impacted public transport in the capital, erupted after a violent attack close to a school at Parnell Square.

A five-year-old child and a woman in her 30s are in a serious condition in hospital after they were attacked and stabbed at lunchtime. Two other young children were also taken to hospital with what have been described as minor injuries. One of them - a boy - has since been discharged.

A man, aged in his 50s, was arrested at the scene by gardaí before being brought to hospital with injuries that have been described as serious.

He has been described as a "person of interest" by investigating gardai.

A major garda investigation into the incident is continuing while additional garda resources from the greater Dublin region and surrounding counties have been deployed to deal with the protests.

pic.twitter.com/qZLD4ty7ga

— Garda Info (@gardainfo) November 23, 2023

In a statement, this Thursday night, the Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said what happened was "an appalling crime that has shocked us all."

She added that An Garda Síochána are following a definite line of inquiry and are not looking for anyone else regarding this crime.

"The perpetrator will be brought to justice. However, the scenes we are witnessing this evening in our city centre cannot and will not be tolerated. A thuggish and manipulative element must not be allowed to use an appalling tragedy to wreak havoc."

"We will not tolerate a small number using an appalling incident to spread division. I would appeal for calm in the city centre as An Garda Síochána carry out their work – attacks on members of An Garda Síochána must be utterly condemned and will be dealt with severely."