Riot erupts in Dublin after asylum seeker accused of raping 10-year-old girl (VIDEOS)

A riot erupted outside an immigration facility in a Dublin suburb on Tuesday, sparked by the alleged rape of a 10-year-old girl.

Although authorities did not disclose the identity of the suspect, the Irish Times reported that he is a rejected asylum seeker who arrived from an African country around six years ago.

Several thousand protesters gathered in Saggart, where some threw projectiles at officers, launched fireworks, and set fire to at least one police van. Police deployed reinforcements and a water cannon to contain the unrest.

According to the Child and Family Agency (Tusla), the assault occurred over the weekend near the former Citywest Hotel, which was converted into a permanent migrant shelter.

The victim, who was under state care, was assaulted after she “absconded from staff whilst on a planned recreational trip with staff in the city center,” the agency said. Tusla added that the victim had been referred to its care earlier this year due to “significant behavioral issues.”

Police said the suspect has been detained for questioning. Officers have 24 hours to charge or release him.

Prime Minister Micheál Martin said authorities had failed the victim. “It is the fundamental duty of the state to protect the children of the state, and irrespective of the complexity or severity of any case, that duty must be fulfilled,” he said.

Deputy Prime Minister Simon Harris called the case “horrifying” but urged the public to exercise restraint. “It’s important that we have an opportunity to establish the facts, and that the agencies also have an opportunity to present those facts,” he said.

Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan condemned the attacks on police, saying, “Peaceful protest is a cornerstone of our democracy. Violence is not.”