Petrol bombs found near site of Coolock disorder

Petrol bombs have been seized by gardai after being discovered near the site of violent disorder in north Dublin.

Gardai have come under attack and fires were set several times at the former Crown Paints factory in Coolock which has been earmarked as housing for asylum seekers.

The building is to be renovated to accommodate more than 500 international protection applicants.

Protests have been organised at the site by a group called “Coolock Says No”.

On Friday night, three gardai officers were injured in clashes.

On Monday, gardai said they had uncovered seven “incendiary devices” during their criminal investigation into the violent scenes last week.

Investigators recovered seven glass and plastic bottles of various sizes containing flammable liquid during searches of Moatfield Avenue and Dunree Park on Tuesday, July 16.

Plastic bottles containing a mixture of paint and oil as well as packets of water balloons were also recovered.

The seized items have been sent for further technical examination and analysis.

A garda spokesman said: “Such devices risk serious harm to human life as well as criminal damage to property, as has been witnessed in recent events.

“An Garda Siochana respects the right for citizens to exercise their constitutional rights; this right does not extend to breaches of criminal law, the interference with the rights of other citizens to carry out their daily activities, or to attack members of An Garda Siochana.”

Gardai are “collating and harvesting CCTV and social media images” from the protests.

They are asking anybody with information about the incendiary devices to contact them.

The spokesman added: “An Garda Siochana wishes to acknowledge the significant volume of support received from the public to date including calls to Coolock Garda Station, the Garda Confidential phone number and receipt of images and videos from members of the public.

“An Garda Siochana is appealing to anyone who may have witnessed these incidents to come forward.”