Irish police arrested 19 individuals following an anti-immigrant demonstration in Dublin. Protesters blocked the O’Connell Bridge during the evening rush hour, resulting in significant traffic disruptions and inconvenience to travelers.
The protesters participated in an anti-immigration demonstration in front of the House of Representatives while another group held an anti-racism demonstration simultaneously. In response, the right-wing protesters moved to O’Connell Bridge and blocked traffic.
Police reported multiple public order incidents throughout the day, resulting in the arrest of 19 individuals. “To ensure the safety of both protesters and the public, a graduated response was implemented,” said a police spokesperson.
The demonstration saw clashes between protesters and the police throughout the day, as authorities attempted to disperse the crowd and reopen the bridge to traffic. An order was issued for the protesters to disperse within an hour, but they refused to comply. In response, the police deployed two units of public security forces, successfully clearing the bridge and arresting 19 demonstrators.
The police continued to patrol the center of Dublin while an investigation was launched into the day’s incidents. Notably, no injuries were reported among either the protesters or the police officers.
Right-wing anti-immigration protesters gathered in front of the General Post Office on O’Connell Street, holding colorful flags and banners with slogans like “You will never defeat the Irish.” They then marched to the House of Representatives and proceeded to O’Connell Bridge. Throughout the march, protesters called for the closure of borders, similar to Germany’s approach, and chanted anti-immigrant slogans such as “Whose streets? Our streets!” and “Get them out, get them out.”
At the intersection of Dawson Street and Molesworth Street, dozens of anti-racist and far-right demonstrators convened, chanting slogans like “Far-right supporters, get off our streets.” Unlike the far-right demonstration, which disrupted traffic and public transportation services, the anti-racist demonstration remained peaceful and incident-free. However, the chaos caused by the far-right protest continued into the evening.
