Unrest intensified outside a Dublin hotel accommodating migrants on Tuesday night, as an Irish police (Gardaí) vehicle was torched and officers faced attacks with bricks, fireworks, and glass bottles. A Gardaí helicopter observing the turbulent situation was also struck by a laser beam.

The disturbances began Monday evening near the Citywest Hotel in Saggart, a County Dublin village, following allegations that a 10-year-old girl had been sexually assaulted by an asylum seeker. A 26-year-old man, a suspect in the reported assault near the hotel, appeared in court Tuesday, facing charges.

Chief Superintendent stated that his officers encountered “sustained levels of violence” while attempting to disperse the gatherings outside the hotel.

“This was not a peaceful demonstration. The violence displayed amounted to thuggery and an effort to intimidate and harm,” McNulty reported. “There were also attempts to break through the Garda cordon by charging the line with horse-drawn sulkies (carts). People were seen carrying items like garden forks and tools, and damaging local walls to gather projectiles.”

Below is an overview of the continuing unrest in Dublin:

What ignited the Dublin riots?

The commotion is concentrated at the Citywest Hotel in Saggart, currently serving as accommodation for asylum-seekers.

The protests, initially peaceful, were arranged following the reported sexual assault of a young girl, thought to have occurred near the hotel on Monday. The in connection with the inquiry.

A man in his twenties was in connection with the incident and appeared before Blanchardstown District Court on Tuesday. He faces charges of sexually assaulting the young girl, who was under the care of Tusla, the Irish Child and Family Agency.

Irish Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan stated that “there is no current threat to public safety in the area” and cautioned individuals against participating in the violent demonstrations.

“Regrettably, the exploitation of a crime by those aiming to incite discord in our society is not unforeseen. The Gardaí are equipped for this, but assaulting Gardaí and damaging property offers no solution and will not contribute to anyone feeling secure,” O’Callaghan remarked.

Similar protests occurred in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, in June, following the attempted rape charges against two teenage boys of Romanian heritage. A third individual connected to the alleged rape reportedly escaped to Romania, as revealed in court in July.

“What commenced peacefully escalated into severe public disorder, with rioters targeting Roma and other ethnic minority families, assaulting residences, setting vehicles ablaze, and injuring police officers,” .

What has been the police response to the Dublin riots?

Garda Síochána Commissioner Justin Kelly characterized the riots as “nothing short of thuggery” on Tuesday. “This was clearly not a peaceful demonstration… it was a mob bent on violence against Gardaí.”

Kelly denounced the aggression faced by officers and verified the deployment of “public order units, dog unit, mounted unit, air support, and the water cannon” in an effort to bring the protests under control.

Approximately 300 officers were dispatched to the location.

Superintendent McNulty stated that the riots were orchestrated by “disparate groups” through social media, organizations that “incite hatred and violence and encourage and persuade others to participate.”

Wednesday that six individuals had been apprehended in connection with the violence.

“Operational activities at the sites of the incidents are continuing, with a comprehensive policing and security presence maintained,” authorities confirmed, amidst worries that the violence might extend into a third night.

Among those detained, five men—two aged in their 50s and three in their 40s—have been charged with public order offenses.

A woman in her 50s, who was taken into custody, has since been released without charge. A report concerning her arrest and release will be prepared for Ireland’s Director of Public Prosecutions, according to police.

What political reactions have emerged regarding the riots?

Taoiseach (Ireland’s Prime Minister) Micheál Martin “” the unrest in Dublin.

“I commend the frontline Gardai who acted with bravery and swiftness to re-establish order,” he stated. “There is no possible justification for the despicable abuse directed at them, or the attempted assaults and attacks on members of the force, which will appall all reasonable individuals.”

Justice Minister O’Callaghan, after briefing Martin on the circumstances, described the street violence as “unacceptable” and pledged that “those implicated will face justice.”

“It is evident to me from discussions with colleagues throughout the day and this evening that this violence is not representative of the community of Saggart,” O’Callaghan asserted.

Irish Presidential candidate Heather Humphreys described the events in Dublin as “utterly horrific” during a televised debate on Tuesday night.

“Members of An Garda Síochána, both men and women, are being assaulted and projectiles are being thrown at them,” . “This is incorrect. This does not define us as a nation.”

Humphreys, previously the Minister of Justice, pledged to dismantle biases against immigrants.

“Immigrants are essential for this country,” she stated, underscoring the Irish economy’s demand for more workers.

During the debate, Presidential candidate Catherine Connolly labeled the riots as “profoundly distressing” and suggested Ireland must exercise “caution” regarding societal divisions.