The capital of the Irish Republic saw on-going rioting overnight as public outrage over the stabbing of three kindergarten students and two adults grew into violence.

According to initial reports, a man began stabbing children outside their daycare facility early Thursday afternoon local time. Passers-by intervened, disarmed the man and held him for police. He had to be protected from an angry mob which formed at the scene. Sources close to the scene said the man was around 50 years old and was an Algerian immigrant. Police have refused to confirm that and Irish newspapers are now saying he is a naturalized Irish citizen who has lived in Dublin for 20 years, without reference to his country of origin. A male immigrant from Brazil working as a delivery person apprehended the attacker along with an Irish woman and both were wounded by the man wielding the knife. The children victims were two girls and a boy all under the age of six. One girl is in critical condition at hospital.

Rioters chanted slogans for the removal of all immigrants from Ireland and one held a sign reading “Irish Lives Matter.” The preschool the children attended is located next to a school where Gaelic is the language of instruction.