A substantial police effort was in effect in Coolock, Dublin’s northern sector, on Friday night as large numbers convened to demonstrate outside the previous Crown Paints factory site, now identified as housing for asylum seekers. Approximately 500 individuals have congregated with intentions of marching towards the Coolock police station, previously targeted by aggressive rioters this week.
Invitations for people to assemble on Malahide Road have been broadcasted on social media platforms over the past two days, with protestors and far-right instigators hoping to incite the movement of large crowds into the vicinity.
Police officials have reported a substantial allocation of resources being on standby to handle any potential crisis. This includes the Public Order Under to subdue any violence that may arise at the aforementioned site, designated to house approximately 500 international protection applicants.
Earlier in the day, police officers conducted searches in the vicinity, aiming to negate any attempts to hide possible weapons such as petrol bombs before the protest began. Earlier this week, considerable turmoil erupted at the site when police intervened shortly before 4 am, attempting to evacuate a protestor’s camp that had been stationed at the entrance since March. A petrol bomb was hurled, engulfing an excavator in flames.
Following this, turbulent incidences occurred intermittently throughout the day, only ending when the crowd had mostly dispersed by 9.30 pm. The crowd was directed away by the Public Order Unit who employed the use of pepper sprays and shields to unblock Malahide Road, which had been obstructed for several hours.
Though the chaos on Tuesday evening was relatively short-lived and less severe, the Public Order Unit was once again deployed, and the smaller gathering dispersed after a few minor encounters with the police. Suspicion of arson has been raised following a fire outbreak inside the former Crown Paints property on Thursday evening, although the fire was limited to a lobby area in the old paint factory.
Despite the installation of a three-metre tall concrete barrier at the site’s entrance in the early hours of Tuesday, the fire still ignited, causing worry among the Gardaí. The incident stirs grave apprehensions about the site being continuously targeted for flame attacks in the future.
Gardaí insiders express that the audacity exhibited by certain individuals who assembled in the locale to damage police vehicles near the Coolock Garda station during the mid-week, underlines their fearlessness and a high propensity to instigate troubles.
Anxiety pervades since it’s believed that many of these potential troublemakers could be young children, seemingly capitalising on the opportunity for recreational violence. Consequently, the Gardaí’s tasks are set to remain intricate and fraught with danger.