Children amongst those injured in reported stabbing in Dublin

Five people, including three young children, have been taken to hospital following a serious incident in Dublin city centre, with one of the children having sustained serious injuries, the Garda has said.

Irish police said there have been five people injured, including three young children, following the serious public order incident which occurred on Parnell Square East in Dublin shortly after 1.30pm.

A Garda spokesperson said: "Five casualties have been taken to various hospitals in the Dublin region.

"The casualties include an adult male, an adult female and three young children.

"One child, a girl, has sustained serious injuries, the other two children are being treated for less serious injuries.

"An Garda Siochana is in contact with parents of all three injured children."

Police said they are following a "definite line of inquiry" following the serious incident in Dublin city centre.

A Garda spokesperson also said they were not looking for any other person at this time.

An adult female is being treated for serious injuries and an adult male for less serious injuries.

The scene at Parnell Square East remains sealed off.

Irish Justice Minister Helen McEntee said she was "deeply shocked" by the "appalling attack on three innocent children and a woman" in Dublin city centre.

Ms McEntee said: "All our thoughts are with those injured, especially with the children, their parents and families, during this extremely difficult period.

"I have been briefed by the Garda Commissioner and will remain in close contact with him and senior Gardai.

"It is my understanding that Gardai are following a definite line of inquiry and are not looking for any other person at this time.

"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."

Superintendent Liam Geraghty said the parents of the children involved in the Dublin incident were aware of the incident very quickly.

"We are dealing, not just with the parents of the three children, but parents of the wider group that would have seen and potentially be traumatised as a result of what happened this afternoon," the Garda officer said.

"My understanding is that the first emergency services were ambulances, and they were there within minutes, followed by An Garda Siochana.

"My understanding is members of the public did intervene at a very, very early stage and we would applaud those members of the public for getting involved in such a traumatic and potentially dangerous situation for themselves.

"We're aware that the public are concerned about the activities that have happened today. The message to them is that we believe that this is a standalone incident, not necessarily connected to any wider issues that are ongoing in the country or in the city, and we need to identify the exact reasons for that happening.

"So we'd ask for people not to jump to conclusions and not to make rash judgments on what may have happened."

He added An Garda Siochana "continues to have an open mind at this early stage of the investigation", but are satisfied there is no terrorist link.

"This is a very early stage of the investigation which is not even four hours old at this stage, but at this time An Garda Siochana is satisfied from our inquiries that there is no terror-related activity or related to any wider aspects in relation to this matter," he said.

"It would appear to be a standalone attack, and we need to determine the reasons behind that."

Supt Geraghty said his understanding is that a knife was used in the attack, but he could not provide more detail on the nature of the injuries.

Early on Thursday evening violent scenes unfolded close to the site of the attack in Dublin city centre as crowds of protesters gathered.

A Garda public order unit has been deployed in the area around Parnell Square, Parnell Street and O'Connell Street.

Some protesters have been involved in scuffles with gardai while others threw bottles at officers.