Gardai have confirmed the arrest of one man following the shocking scenes on Dublin's Sandwith Street on Friday, when tents belonging to homeless refugees were damaged.
Tensions between anti-immigration protesters and those who arrived to voice their support for asylum seekers had threatened to boil over since Thursday night and on Friday, the violence escalated considerably.
A heavy Garda presence was unable to prevent a number of clashes as dozens of individuals from both protest groups refused to back down.
READ MORE - Violent clashes as group shouts 'this is our country' in confrontation with asylum seekers in Dublin
As most of the protesters were moved on by Gardai, fires were started in a laneway, with footage on social media showing tents being set alight.
Sinn Fein TD Eoin O Broin led the condemnation, tweeting: "What happened last night in Sandwith Street is an outrage. This is racism pure & simple. Burning the tents of homeless people who have come to Ireland seeking international protection. This is not who we are as a people. We are better than this."
A man was arrested at the scene and will appear before Dublin District Court later this month.
A Garda spokesperson told The Irish Mirror: "Gardaí attended following reports of a protest / demonstration involving groups of people in the Sandwith Street area of Dublin 2 on the evening of Friday 12th May, 2023.
"Gardaí engaged with those present and one male (30s) was later arrested under the Public Order Act.
"He has since been charged to appear before Dublin District Court later this month. As the groups involved dispersed some wooden materials and pallets were set alight in a nearby lane way.
"No one was present in the laneway at the time and no one was injured."
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