Irish police have been attacked with missiles and fireworks after violence flared outside a Dublin hotel used to house asylum seekers.
A Garda vehicle was also set on fire as several thousand protesters gathered at the Citywest Hotel in Ireland’s capital on Tuesday evening.
It comes two years after anti-immigrant activists triggered a riot in Dublin city centre after three young children were stabbed.
Members of the Garda’s public order unit were deployed to the building on Garter Lane, with protesters displaying Irish flags and chanting.
A large crowd remained in the area after 9pm and officers with shields, and some on horseback, were moving protesters back. Some of the crowd threw stones and other missiles at police.
Rioting in Citywest tonight…No lessons learnt from Dublin riot in 2023… pic.twitter.com/aQ9DzpHusZ
— Padraig O'Reilly Photojournalist (@padraig_reilly) October 21, 2025
A line of officers was preventing the protesters getting to the hotel. Meanwhile, number of those involved in the disturbances had their faces covered.
The police helicopter was seen hovering overhead and a water cannon has been deployed to the scene.
It marked the second night in a row a protest has been held outside the hotel, which is being used as state accommodation for people seeking international protection.
The gatherings outside the hotel come after an alleged sexual assault in the vicinity in the early hours of Monday morning.
🚨BREAKING: Large crowds of angry locals hurl glass bottles at Gardaí by outside Citywest Hotel in Saggart, Co Dublin.
— The British Patriot (@TheBritLad) October 21, 2025
Fireworks continue to be launched at officers defending the entrance to the hotel.
The Irish have had enough. pic.twitter.com/QbpSVQa0ZF
Ireland’s Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan said those involved in the violence will be brought to justice.
He said: “This is unacceptable and will result in a forceful response from the gardai.”
The minister said a man had been arrested and appeared in court in relation to the alleged assault.
He added: “While I am not in a position to comment any further on this criminal investigation, I have been advised that there is no ongoing threat to public safety in the area.
“Unfortunately, the weaponising of a crime by people who wish to sow dissent in our society is not unexpected.”
Mr O’Callaghan said attacks on police will “not be tolerated”, adding: “Peaceful protest is a cornerstone of our democracy. Violence is not.”
Speaking during the final Irish presidential debate on Tuesday, Fine Gael politician Heather Humphreys described the violence as "absolutely awful". "This is not what we are as a country,” she added.
