Five people including children in hospital after knife attack in Dublin

A man has been detained after allegedly stabbing three children and two adults near a school in central Dublin.

The incident happened at about 1.30pm on Thursday close to Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire, a primary school at Parnell Square East, a bustling part of Ireland’s capital.

Three young children and a man and a woman were taken to hospital, with one of the children, a girl, and the woman sustaining serious injuries, RTE reported.

Police detained a suspect and are understood to have retrieved a large knife.

“I am deeply shocked by the appalling attack on three innocent children and a woman in Dublin today,” the justice minister, Helen McEntee, said in a statement. “All our thoughts are with those injured, especially with the children, their parents and families, during this extremely difficult period.”

Gardaí are following a definite line of inquiry and are not looking for any other person at this time, 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.”