Speculation by the public on the motivations behind an attack in which several children were stabbed is 'unhelpful to point of being malicious'.
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris was speaking after a woman and three young children were believed to be stabbed on Dublin's Parnell Square this afternoon.
It happened shortly after 1:30 pm this afternoon near Gaelscoil Coláiste Mhuire on Parnell Square East.
Five people have been taken to hospitals in the Dublin region.
These include three young children, an adult woman and an adult man.
The man aged in his 50s is a person of interest in this investigation.
One girl (5) sustained serious injuries and is in a critical condition. She is currently receiving emergency medical treatment in Temple Street Hospital.
Gardaí have said the incident is believed to be 'a standalone incident' and not connected to any wider issues.
They have also ruled out terrorism.
Speaking earlier Commissioner Harris said the investigation is at a very early stage.
"I'm not going to characterise it as any particular type of incident or give it a character," he said.
"Obviously, the circumstances and the motivation behind this incident will be very important in terms of the investigation which will unfold.
"It to early to say [that] it's either this or the other.
"This is a live investigation, and part of that is obviously then to determine the motivation".
"There is a lot of speculation - it is extremely unhelpful to point of being malicious."
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris takes questions on the stabbings in Dublin this afternoon.
For live updates, see the links below: pic.twitter.com/gS0VikdvIW— NewstalkFM (@NewstalkFM) November 23, 2023
Commissioner Harris said members of the public grapped with the alleged attacker.
"It would appear that following the actual incident itself and part of the incident itself, members of the public who were passing by intervened and then indeed they in effect then grappled with this individual and then that allowed Gardaí to on their arrival to arrest this individual."
He said all possible motivations will be considered.
"In effect the investigation has to examine any and all possible motivations," he said.
"So, I'm neither ruling any motivation in or out at this moment in time".
'Speculation'
Commissioner Harris said Gardaí are not seeking anyone else in relation to the incident, but he said speculation in terms of who the man is is unhelpful.
"There's a lot of speculation and I think some of it is extremely unhelpful to point of being malicious," he said.
"A full investigation [is] underway, proper authorities - i.e. An Garda Síochána - have now swung place.
"There's a criminal justice response in terms of this incident.
"There's a proper way of dealing with this.
"Now really our thoughts and prayers are with the families and those who are the victims of this awful attack," he added.
