Dublin stabbings – latest: Rioters driven by ‘hate’ not patriotism, Leo Varadkar says

Rioters who caused “huge destruction” in Dublin last night following multiple stabbings in the capital were driven by “hate” not patriotism, the Irish prime minister has said. Leo Varadkar said around 500 people who burnt out buses, trams and smashed windows had brought “shame” on the country. “Those involved brought shame on Dublin, brought shame on Ireland and brought shame on their families and themselves,” he told a press conference earlier. “These criminals did not do what they did because they love Ireland. They did not do what they did because they wanted to protect Irish people.“They did not do it out of any sense of patriotism, however warped. The violence came following a stabbing incident at around 1.30pm in Parnell Square East, near the Irish-medium primary school Gaelscoil Cholaiste Mhuire on Thursday, which left five people injured. The casualties include three young children, an adult female and an adult male. Two girls are receiving treatment for serious injuries, while a five-year-old boy has been discharged. Both adults remain in hospital after suffering serious wounds. Police believe the attack was a “standalone” incident and is not terror-related. The scene remains cordoned off, while a man in his 50s has been arrested and named as a “person of interest” in the investigation. Read More 34 arrests made after rioting in Dublin following school knife attack Dublin riots: Looted shops, blockaded roads and burning cars in night of violence Buses and trams burned in Dublin riots after children injured in knife attack