A man has been arrested after three people were injured in a suspected knife attack that has left a Dublin neighbourhood in “a state of shock”.
Irish police said they were responding to a serious incident after about 3pm on Sunday.
Three men, aged between their mid-20s and mid-40s, were injured in what was described as an “awful random attack” across several streets in the Arbour Hill area of Stoneybatter. There was a large Garda presence in the area and other emergency services attended.
The local Fine Gael councillor Ray McAdam said residents had been told to stay inside and lock their doors. He said police had reacted very quickly and “swarmed the place”.
Garda said a man in his 20s was intercepted and detained close to the scene by an unarmed officer, at a Garda station in the north of Dublin.
Police said three men assaulted in the course of the incident were taken to hospital for treatment. Two had serious but not life-threatening injuries, while the other’s injuries were described as less serious.
After the arrest, a spokesperson for the Garda Síochána, the Irish national police force, said: “There is no ongoing risk to the public at this time.”
The taoiseach, Micheál Martin, wished those injured in the “shocking attacks” in Dublin a “full recovery”.
In a statement on X, he said: “Our thoughts are with the victims of the shocking attacks in Stoneybatter earlier today. I want to pay tribute to the gardaí and emergency services for their prompt response.
“I wish all those injured a full recovery and urge anyone with any information to contact Garda.”
A heightened police presence and a number of crime scene cordons were in place until shortly before 5pm. All traffic restrictions had been lifted by the evening.
Police are appealing for any witnesses to the incident to come forward.
“Anyone who was in the Stoneybatter area between 2.30pm and 3.30pm, who may have any video footage linked to this incident, is asked to make this footage available to gardaí,” a spokesperson said.
“Anyone with information is asked to contact the Bridewell Garda station on (01) 6668200, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.”
McAdam said community officers were contacting local residents to assure them they would maintain a presence in the area. He described the neighbourhood as closely knit.
“There’s a level of shock, a level of concern, but the overriding sense here in Stonybatter is one of hope that those who have been impacted and injured will make a swift recovery,” he said. “There’s a sense of ‘how could something like this happen in our neighbourhood?”’
Local people had been reassured by the quick Garda response, he said.
The Sinn Féin leader, Mary Lou McDonald, described the incident as “terrible news”. “My thoughts are with those injured and their families. The community is in a state of shock,” she said in a statement. “The gardaí and emergency services are to be commended for their response.”
