WATCH: Footage Shows Garda Stand-off As Tension Mounts On O’ Connell Street

There are tense scenes in Dublin City Centre today at the launch of Irish Anti-Islamisation group Pegida. Hundreds turned up to demonstrate against the far-right group and a stand-off is currently in effect between the Garda Public Order Unit, Pegida and demonstrators on O' Connell st. According to The Irish Times, the scene escalated when a small group broke away from the large party of counter-protesters and chased another group down Earl Street and into a discount store. O’Connell Street is now closed to traffic in both directions between Abbey Street and Cathal Brugha Street, with Cathedral Street cordoned off by public order, mounted and canine garda units. Many representatives from  groups such as Sinn Fein, People Before Profit, the Workers Solidarity Movement and Irish Muslim organisations have gathered to demonstrate against Pegida.

Sinn Féin MEP Lynn Boylan said “we are standing shoulder to shoulder in solidarity to show that there is no place in Ireland today for racism and Islamophobia. There is no place for hate.”

"When resources are scarce we have vulnerable communities being pitted against each other for these scarce resources.

"Organisations like Pegida exploit this.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qa3V8EFTKnk Video via YouTube/JOE.ie