Four men were hospitalised after a series of stabbing and glassing incidents in Dublin's busiest tourist district.

The men suffered facial and head injuries after receiving stab wounds from knives and broken bottles, in what one local business owner described as a night of "absolute chaos" on Saturday in Temple Bar.

In one incident, a 32-year-old man was left fighting for his life after being stabbed several times outside the Club M nightclub on Cope Street at approximately 7.30pm.

It is understood that the man was stabbed several times after he attempted to intervene in a fight between two other men.

However, he was repeatedly stabbed and emergency services were called.

Forensic

Expand Close Attacks took place on Fleet Street (marked) and Cope Street (parallel to Fleet Street) (Photo: Google Maps) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Attacks took place on Fleet Street (marked) and Cope Street (parallel to Fleet Street) (Photo: Google Maps)

Gardaí sealed off the lane as they interviewed witnesses while a garda forensic team carried out examinations of the scene.

The victim was rushed to St James's Hospital, where he was last night understood to be in a critical condition.

Gardaí from Pearse Street are investigating the attack and examining CCTV footage of the area.

However, no arrests have been made as yet in relation to the incident.

Officers are trying to establish whether the serious attack is linked to another stabbing that occurred nearby at around the same time.

A man was assaulted with a knife as he stood outside a pub on Fleet Street. The 24-year-old was stabbed in the head and chest during the attack, which happened at around 7.45pm.

The victim was also rushed to St James's Hospital where he was described as being in a stable condition last night.

Two men were also stabbed later in the evening, with the attacks related to one another.

A man is alleged to have been attacked with a pocket knife on Temple Bar Square, suffering a gash to his face.

The perpetrator was then followed and attacked a short distance away on Crown Alley, outside the Bad Ass Café.

He was attacked with a glass bottle and struck in the face, suffering facial wounds during the incident.

Both men were treated in hospital for their injuries.

A local business owner described the scene in Dublin's central tourist hub of Temple Bar as one of "absolute chaos" on Saturday night.

"It was absolutely disgraceful here on Saturday night.

"It was just full of scumbags running around and destroying the place.

"There were people out trying to enjoy themselves but a small group of people were just causing trouble as usual," the man said.

"It was absolute chaos, unfortunately," he added.

Criminal

The area has previously come under the spotlight with gangs of teenagers carrying out anti-social acts and engaging in criminal behaviour.

In March, it was announced that a public safety unit would be drafted in to support the work of on-the-beat gardaí amid fears the problem of teen gangs operating in the capital's cultural quarter had escalated, along with out-of-control drinking.

Irish Independent