Gardaí investigating a weekend knife attack in which three people were injured were continuing to question the suspect on Monday evening.
A precise motive for Sunday afternoon’s attack in Stoneybatter, Dublin 7, was, however, yet to emerge.
The Irish Times understands the suspect, who is from South America, has been in the Republic since 2022.
He has previously come to the attention of gardaí for drug-related crime and was on bail facing charges related to the seizure of several thousand euro of cannabis and ecstasy.
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The three men injured in Sunday’s attacks, aged between their mid 20s and mid 40s, required hospital treatment for slash wounds. Two had been discharged by Monday night and all three were expected to make a full recovery.
Garda sources said the injured men had been the victims of significant violence and would be left with scars after their injuries healed.
The apparently random attacks took place just before 3pm on Sunday over a distance of a few hundred metres around the Oxmantown Road area.
One man was attacked at the front door of his home while another was cycling in the area at the time.
The suspect, who was masked, was overpowered and arrested by unarmed gardaí who arrived on the scene. The area was then flooded with emergency workers, including members of the Garda’s Armed Support Unit.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan have paid tribute to the speed and effectiveness of the Garda response.
Mr O’Callaghan said the attack could have resulted in a far worse outcome had the man not been found and arrested in the vicinity. He acknowledged that more high-visibility police was required in Dublin.
The Minister told RTÉ radio there was no history of violent attacks involving the suspect and his understanding was that he had not sought international protection.
Mr O’Callaghan said one of the injured men was a brother of his friend.
“The man came up behind him and slashed him in the back of the neck,” he said, adding that “attacks like this are highly unusual”.
Speaking to the media in Brussels, Mr Martin said his thoughts were “with the victims and their families”, who he wished a full recovery.
A notable Garda presence was visible around the Oxmantown Road area on Monday as gardaí conducted house-to-house inquiries. They also provided a presence to reassure local people, a number of whom told The Irish Times of their shock at what had taken place.
The man being questioned about the attack was subject to a stop-and-search about two years ago and cannabis valued at more than €1,000 was found on this person.
In a follow-up search at an address linked to him, a further consignment of ecstasy and cannabis was discovered.
It is understood the value of all of the drugs seized was about €5,000 and he was facing criminal charges in relation to that drug seizure and due before the courts soon.
The suspect, who is aged in his 20s, had fallen into homelessness since coming to the attention of gardaí when the drugs were found.
He was effectively destitute, with no apparent access to funds, and appears to have had no fixed address of late, though has links to the Dublin 7 area.
Gardaí do not believe the attack is linked to terrorism or radicalisation of any kind, though sources said the investigation team was still trying to establish a motive.
The suspect underwent medical treatment before being questioned.
He was being detained under section four of the Criminal Justice Act, which gives gardaí 24 hours to question a suspect, though that period of questioning can be paused to allow for medical treatment, breaks for rest and other reasons.
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