Fireworks shot at police at ‘sickening’ anti-lockdown protest in Dublin

This is the moment a firework was fired at “police officers faces” before they charged crowds of enraged anti-lockdown protesters in Dublin.

In shocking footage, a protestor can be seen pushing through the crowd towards a police line brandishing the rocket and firing it just metres away from officers.

The person gets a couple of shots off before police charge the hordes of densely packed protestors sending them fleeing backwards.

Protesters clashed with Irish police as they marched through the city centre and attempted to make their way to St Stephen’s Green park.

There was a heavy garda presence around the city centre ahead of the protest, which started at around 2pm.

Hundreds of people who were not wearing face masks took part in the demonstration.

Gardai used batons to push protesters away from the park.

Videos of the protest shows a demonstrator point a firework at gardai before it went off, while other missiles and items were thrown at gardai.

Protesters were prevented from gathering in the park after the Office of Public Works closed the gates to the public.

The city’s tram operator said that its services would not be operating at the St Stephen’s Green stop because of the protest.

Ireland’s Minister for Further and Higher Education condemned the anti-lockdown protest.

Simon Harris tweeted: “Pure thuggery on the streets of Dublin today.

“It’s not a ‘protest’. It’s an attack on our national effort.

“The abuse directed at the Gardai is sickening and shameful. Disgraceful.

“Thoughts with the Gardai and their families.”

Fine Gael TD Neale Richmond slammed the violent scenes.

“From the outset, this protest was ill-advised, fuelled by conspiracy theories and championed by individuals seeking to manipulate the genuine fears of many vulnerable individuals,” he said.

“It was disgraceful to see this protest descend into violent scenes with brave members of An Garda Siochana subjected to intolerable physical and verbal abuse.