Three young children have been injured, one seriously, following a knife attack outside a school in Dublin city centre.
A woman was also seriously injured in the incident on Parnell Square East in the north inner-city on Thursday afternoon.
A five-year-old girl is undergoing emergency treatment for her injuries, Irish police have said.
The two other children, a five-year-old boy and a six-year-old girl, sustained less serious injuries.
Garda said a man who sustained serious injuries is a person of interest in their investigation.
They have also ruled out any terrorist link and praised members of the public who intervened following the attack.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said a suspect had been detained.
The scene of the incident is close to Irish language-medium primary school Gaelscoil Cholaiste Mhuire.
Giving an update to the media on Thursday evening, Superintendent Liam Geraghty said: “An Garda Siochana continue to investigate all of the circumstances of a serious assault which occurred on Parnell Square East shortly after 1.30pm this afternoon.
“Preliminary indications are that a male attacked a number of people on Parnell Square East.
“Five casualties have been taken to hospitals in the Dublin region.
“These casualties include three young children, an adult female and an adult male.
“One girl, aged five years, has sustained serious injuries and is currently receiving emergency medical treatment in CHI Temple Street.”
The senior officer said the police were following a definite line of inquiry.
He added: “The male in his 50s is a person of interest to An Garda Siochana in this investigation and An Garda Siochana is not looking for any other person at this time.”
Mr Geraghty said he is satisfied “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.”
My understanding is members of the public did intervene at a very, very early stage and we would applaud those members of the publi— Superintendent Liam Geraghty
The officer said his understanding is that a knife was used.
He added: “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.”
Siobhan Kearney said she witnessed what she believes was a man attacking children.
She described what she saw as “absolutely bedlam”.
Ms Kearney told RTE she watched people disarm a man who she said had a knife.
“I looked across the road and I see the man and the stabbing motion with a load of children so I flew across the road,” she said.
“The man was after stabbing two children as far as I could make out, and we got the children up to the left with the women that were there, and the teachers I presume.
“People were trying to attack the man so me and an American lady, we formed a ring around the man, and then about three minutes later the ambulance came for the children and then another ambulance and fire officers came for the man on the ground.”
Irish Justice Minister Helen McEntee said she was “deeply shocked” by the “appalling attack on three innocent children and a woman”.
She 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 (Drew Harris) and will remain in close contact with him and senior gardai.
She added: “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.”
We are all shocked by the incident which has taken place in Parnell Square— Leo Varadkar
Irish premier Mr Varadkar said: “We are all shocked by the incident which has taken place in Parnell Square.
“A number of people have been injured, some of them children.
“Our thoughts and our prayers go out to them and their families.
“I have been in contact with the Minister for Justice who is keeping me updated.”
He added: The facts in this matter are still emerging.
“The emergency services responded very quickly and were on site within minutes. I thank them for that.
“Gardai have detained a suspect and are following a definite line of inquiry.”
Irish Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe said his thoughts and prayers are with the victims.
He said: “I am aware of an extremely serious incident that has taken place at Parnell Square in my constituency of Dublin Central.
“My thought and prayers are with the victims of this very serious incident, and their families.
“Anyone with information is being asked to contact Store Street police station.”
Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said the incident in Dublin city centre had caused “shock and horror”.
Speaking at the scene she said children who witnessed what happened have been traumatised.
She added: “Our heart goes out to the whole school community, to the children, the parents, the teachers.
“I know that the gardai acted very swiftly in this matter, but this is certainly the last thing that any of us expected on a Thursday afternoon where children should come safely from school and be collected by their parents.
“I pray the injured make a full recovery.
“The community is stunned, stunned and horrified.”
