Gardaí have launched an investigation after a number of tents sheltering asylum seekers experiencing homelessness were damaged in a disgusting attack.

Authorities received a report of the sick incident of criminal damage in the early hours of Wednesday morning, with eight tents allegedly slashed by weapons and thrown into the River Liffey, RTÉ reports.

The encampment had only been erected at the site along the City Quay on Tuesday evening, with the vile attack occurring only a short time later. The national broadcaster has alleged some of the assailants carried pipes and knives.

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The International Protection Applicants who had been sleeping rough in the tents are said to have fled to a nearby Garda station following the incident, with one person losing their documents.

A Garda spokesperson told the Irish Mirror: “Gardaí in Pearse Street responded to report of criminal damage on City Quay, Dublin 2 in the early hours of this morning, Wednesday, 17 July”.

The spokesperson added that investigations into the incident are ongoing.

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