The Irish Defence Forces have clarified that certain images circulating online "are not from this evening but from a separate routine operation".

Images on social media showing army personnel carriers in Dublin had led to speculation soldiers have been deployed to tackle the disorder in the city. But the defence forces' post, external clarifies that these pictures "have no connection to this evening's events".

The post adds: "We ask everyone to be sensitive to the spreading disinformation, and to take care."

Here are some images from the scene a short time ago.

Dublin Fire Brigade’s Ambulance Service says on X, formerly Twitter, , externalthat it is “extremely busy tonight”, and asks for patience as it deals “with the most serious illnesses and injuries first”.

It warns that those needing non-life-threatening treatment could face “substantial" waiting times.

Sara Girvin
Ireland correspondent

We have heard two press conferences from the police now.

They said they weren't looking for anyone else in relation to the knife attack earlier today.

But they also said there were keeping an open mind when it came to motives.

All we know is that police have said there is a man who is a "person of interest", and they're not looking for anyone else at this time.

They're asking people to listen to information from them - and not what they may be hearing from other people, and certainly not to speculate on social media.

Tram services in Dublin city centre have been suspended, operator Luas has confirmed, external on social media.

The Dublin Bus service has also told customers, external that none of its vehicles are running via Parnell Square East or O'Connell Street - areas where clashes have been reported.

Images from the scene show a bus has been set alight - one of a number of vehicles that have come under attack.

Image source, PA Media

Sara Girvin
Ireland correspondent

Clashes are still very much ongoing here.

The protests started at about 17:00. We know there have been scuffles with police, and bottles thrown.

We also heard fireworks being thrown, and reports of vehicles on fire.

There are a lot of police in this area. There's a lot of anger in this area about what happened earlier today.

We've just seen riot police actually heading down this street just to deal with the protesters.

We brought you a few words from Irish police chief Drew Harris in that clip below.

Here's something else he told reporters: "We ask people to act responsibly, not to listen to misinformation and rumour that is circulating on social media."

Harris added: "The facts are being established, but the facts are still not clear on a lot of the rumour and the innuendo is being spread for malevolent purposes."

Irish police chief Drew Harris has condemned violent scenes this evening as "disgraceful" - blaming a "complete, lunatic faction" driven by a "far-right ideology".

Police in Dublin say violent clashes are ongoing between officers and what they describe as "far-right" protesters.

• The violence is happening near where members of the public - including children - were injured in a knife attack this afternoon in the city centre
• Officers with riot shields and batons have clashed with members of the crowd, and a number of police vehicles have been damaged
• It's not clear what caused the unrest
• A man who’s been arrested in connection with the knife attack earlier today is also receiving treatment for serious injuries, and police say they aren’t looking for anyone else
• Helen McEntee, Ireland’s justice minister, said a “thuggish and manipulative elements must not be allowed to use an appalling tragedy to wreak havoc”

James FitzGerald
Live reporter

We're restarting this live page - after violence broke out in central Dublin.

The Irish police chief has blamed the unrest - which has seen officers clash with protesters, and vehicles set on fire - on a "lunatic, hooligan faction".

The disturbances follow an earlier knife attack in the city centre in which five people were injured.

We are closing our live page coverage of the stabbing attacks in Dublin.

• You can find out how the incident unfolded and all the details from the police statement here.

This page was written by Rebekah Wilson, Luke Sproule and Tara Mewawalla. It was edited by Aoife Walsh and Nadia Ragozhina.

Supt Liam Geraghty briefed the press a short while ago. At the early stages in the investigation, here's what we know so far:

• Gardaí were called shortly after 13:30 local time to an incident at Parnell Square East in Dublin
• A woman in her 30s, a man in his 50s, a boy (5) and two girls (5 and 6) were injured
• All were taken to hospitals - the boy has been discharged
• The adult woman is being treated for serious injuries and the five-year-old girl is having emergency medical treatment
• The adult man is a "person of interest" in the investigation and is currently receiving medical treatment
• Gardaí believe a male attacked a woman
• Gardaí are following a "definite line of inquiry" although they have "an open mind" at this time
• The Supt says Gardaí do not believe the incident was "terror-related" and that it appears to be a "stand alone attack"
• He is appealing for information or video footage of the incident and urges the public "not to make rash judgements on what may have happened"

The Irish National Teachers' Organisation says its hearts are with the entire school community of Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire "following the horrendous incident that has taken place today".

As we've been reporting the school is an Irish language school in Parnell Square East.

"We are thinking of the children, their families and the school's staff during this unimaginably difficult time," the statement adds.

An eyewitness has spoken of how a bystander disarmed a man with a knife during an incident in Dublin in which five people were injured.

Speaking to Irish broadcaster RTÉ, Siobhan Kearney said: "Without thinking, I just took across the road to help out."

Labour Party Senator Marie Sherlock was in the area after the incident and says the children who were stabbed were queueing up to go to after-school care when they were attacked.

"Today is a harrowing day," she adds.

"Our thoughts are with all the whole school community.

"While it is all very real today, I think the impact of the trauma tomorrow, next week and the time after is really going to be very difficult."

Supt Geraghty says parents of the children were made aware of the incident "very very quickly".

He says gardaí are dealing with not just the parents of three children involved directly of the incident but also the wider group that would have seen the attack, which "would potentially traumatise them".

As we reported earlier, Supt Geraghty says a five-year-old girl is in a "serious" condition in CHI in Temple Street.

In response to whether the man in his 50s is being questioned, he says that the man is receiving medical treatment.

Geraghty says he understands the public are concerned by what has happened.

He says: "I don't have a specific reason why the children or any of their carers or teachers may have been on the street but it's a public road, it's outside their school, it's a normal activity for them to be going to or from their school. We need to determine the reasons behind the attack."

Supt Geraghty reiterates that gardaí believe it was a standalone incident unconnected to any "wider issues in the country or the city".

He appeals to people not to jump to conclusions and not to "make rash judgements on what may have happened".

Supt Geraghty says that although it is early in the investigation, gardaí are confident that there is "no terror-related activity" and that it would appear to be a "stand alone attack".

He says his officers need to establish the reasons behind the attack.

He also confirms that a knife was used in the attack.