Irish authorities have pledged to pursue those responsible for the violent clashes that erupted during a protest outside a Dublin hotel housing asylum seekers. The incident, which occurred on Tuesday evening at the Citywest Hotel in Saggart, saw Gardaí (Irish police) attacked with bricks, fireworks, and glass bottles. A female officer sustained a foot injury, while a police helicopter was targeted with lasers and a police vehicle was set ablaze. Garda Ch Supt Michael McNulty, the scene commander, described the violence as orchestrated by “disparate groups on social media, who stir up hatred and violence.” He emphasized that the protest was far from peaceful, labeling the actions as “thuggery” and an attempt to intimidate and injure. Approximately 300 officers, including half from the public order unit, were deployed to manage the situation. While a water cannon was on standby, it was not used. Officers on horseback and a dog unit were also present. Irish broadcaster RTÉ reported that around 2,000 people attended the protest, with some attempting to breach the police cordon using horse-drawn carts. Taoiseach Micheál Martin condemned the attacks, stating there was no justification for such violence. Acting Deputy Commissioner Paul Cleary reiterated that the violence was “unacceptable” and vowed to identify and prosecute those responsible, regardless of attempts to conceal their identities. The area remains cordoned off, with debris scattered and a burnt-out police van visible. Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly condemned the actions as “thuggery,” while RTÉ’s crime correspondent Paul Reynolds noted that the violence appeared pre-planned but was more contained than previous incidents. Detectives are already gathering high-quality CCTV and bodycam footage to identify further perpetrators.