Foreign News
Dublin riot sees clashes with police after five hurt in stabbings
Vehicles have been set on fire and shops looted in Dublin after a knife attack that left a number of people, including three children, injured.
A five-year-old girl and a woman in her 30s were seriously hurt in the attack after 13:40 local time. It happened on Parnell Square East in the city centre, outside the children’s school Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire. A man in his 40s who was also seriously injured is a person of interest, police said. They added that they were not looking for any other people at this time and are following a definite line of inquiry.
Sources have indicated to the BBC that the man suspected of carrying out the attack is an Irish citizen, who has lived in the country for 20 years.
The head of An Garda Síochána (Irish police), Drew Harris, blamed the subsequent disorder on a “lunatic, hooligan faction driven by a far-right ideology”, who engaged in violence as police tried to maintain the crime scene.
The streets are now “mainly calm”, the Irish police have said, with no serious injuries reported as a result of the violence.
Chief Superintendent Patrick McMenamin said more than 400 officers remain on patrol after the disorder which he blamed on “gratuitous thuggery”. “Some of my colleagues were attacked and assaulted, thankfully none were seriously injured and I commend them all on their bravery to protect our community,” he added.
It is unclear how many arrests have been made, but Irish Justice Minister told Irish national broadcaster RTÉ that it was a significant number.
Fires and looting
Riot police were deployed after protesters gathered in the area near the scene of the attack. The disorder centred on several streets in the city centre near the the scene of the attack earlier, including O’Connell Street.
A number of vehicles were set on fire, including a car, a tram and a bus. A shop on O’Connell Street was looted while the windows of other stores were smashed.
Trinity College, which is nearby in the city centre, said it was in lockdown with all gates to its campus closed due to the disturbances.
Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Leo Varadkar said extra police resources had been deployed. He added that he had been shocked by the incident and “the facts in this matter are still emerging”.
Mr Harris urged people to “act responsibly, not to listen to misinformation and rumour that is circulating on social media”. “We know what happened, but the motive for this is entirely unclear.”
Meanwhile, the head of Ireland’s National Bus and Railworkers’ Union described those who targeted bus and trams as “thugs” and “despicable people”.
‘Standalone attack’
Dermot O’Leary told RTÉ: “We have to make a decision whether to suspend all transport in and out of Dublin City. “The safety of all our members is our primary concern.”
In a press conference earlier, Supt Liam Geraghty said that the five-year-old girl is receiving emergency care in hospital, while another girl, aged six, and a five-year-old boy were less seriously hurt.
He added that although it is early in the investigation, gardaí (police) are confident that there is “no terror-related activity” and that it would appear to be a “standalone attack”.
Irish President Michael D Higgins said that his thoughts were with the children and families affected by the incident. “This appalling incident is a matter for the gardaí and that it would be used or abused by groups with an agenda that attacks the principle of social inclusion is reprehensible and deserves condemnation by all those who believe in the rule of law and democracy,” he added.
The Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) said: “Our hearts are with the entire school community of Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire following the horrendous incident that has taken place today.
(BBC)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has nominated a former Navy commander to head the country’s domestic security services, despite the courts having blocked his bid to fire the previous head of Shin Bet.
Netanyahu’s office announced on Monday that he had nominated Vice Admiral Eli Sharvit to lead the agency, which surveils attacks from abroad and at home, including by armed groups based in Palestine and Lebanon. However, a halt to the sacking of Ronen Bar as head of Shin Bet, ordered by the Supreme Court, remains in place.
[Aljazeera]
The Trump administration has deported 17 more alleged gang members to El Salvador, the US state department has said, despite legal battles over removing people to the Central American country’s supermax prison.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the group included members of the Tren de Aragua and MS-13 gangs.
Salvadoran government officials told the BBC they included a mix of Venezuelans and Salvadorans.
Earlier this month a court ordered a halt to deportations carried out under the Alien Enemies Act, a 1798 law previously used only in wartime. However, US media, citing administration sources, reported that the recent deportations were made under general immigration laws.
In a statement, Rubio said the group included “murderers and rapists”, but did not provide names or details of the alleged crimes or of any convictions.
In a post on X, El Salvador President Nayib Bukele shared a dramatically edited video showing shackled men being loaded off a plane and their heads being shaved before they were put into prison cells.
“All individuals are confirmed murderers and high-profile offenders, including six child rapists,” he wrote. “This operation is another step in the fight against terrorism and organized crime.”
President Trump reposted the message, blamed the administration of his predecessor Joe Biden for allowing the deportees into the US and thanked Bukele for “giving them such a wonderful place to live”.
El Salvador has agreed to take in deportees in exchange for $6m (£4.6m).
Family members of some of those who were previously sent to the maximum security prison have denied they have any gang ties.
After Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act to remove more than 100 Venezuelans from the US earlier this month, groups including the American Civil Liberties Union filed a legal challenge alleging the administration had illegally denied the immigrants due process.
In a hearing on 15 March, James Boasberg, the top federal judge in Washington DC, imposed a temporary restraining order on the use of the law and ordered deportation flights that were in the air to be turned around.
But the deportations proceeded. The next hearing in the case will be held on Thursday.
[BBC]
Foreign News
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen barred from running for public office for five years
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen has been barred from running for public office for five years, meaning she would not be able to run in the 2027 French presidential election
She was found guilty of embezeeling European funds to finance her French far-right National Rally (RN) party.
[BBC]
Cabinet approves providing relief to the people of Myanmar
Cabinet appoints ministerial committee to submit report on sanctions imposed on 04 Sri Lankans by the United Kingdom
Revised Aswasuma Welfare Benefit Payment Scheme to be submitted for the concurrence of the Parliament.
-
Sports4 days agoSri Lanka’s eternal search for the elusive all-rounder
-
News3 days agoBid to include genocide allegation against Sri Lanka in Canada’s school curriculum thwarted
-
News5 days agoGnanasara Thera urged to reveal masterminds behind Easter Sunday terror attacks
-
Business6 days agoAIA Higher Education Scholarships Programme celebrating 30-year journey
-
News4 days agoComBank crowned Global Finance Best SME Bank in Sri Lanka for 3rd successive year
-
Features4 days agoSanctions by The Unpunished
-
Latest News2 days agoIPL 2025: Rookies Ashwani and Rickelton lead Mumbai Indians to first win
-
Features4 days agoMore parliamentary giants I was privileged to know