Horror firebomb attack in inner-city linked to ‘Northside vs the Southside’ feud

The intended targets of Wednesday night’s petrol bomb attack are two brothers who were also viciously assaulted at an event in Co Kildare last weekend.

Both men suffered non-life threatening injuries when they were stabbed in an incident which is also being investigated as being linked to the bitter inner city dispute.

It is believed they were both stabbed in the chest.

“There had been no incidents for ages as part of this dispute but it seems to have flared up again. Extra garda patrols will be deployed to the area,” a senior source said.

“This dispute has been described as Northside versus the Southside,” the source added.

One of the suspected targets is facing serious charges before the courts in relation to the ongoing dispute.

Sources said that the mob who are suspected of being responsible for the arson attack came from, and went back to, the south inner city.

No arrests have yet been made but a number of men are before the courts in relation to previous alleged incidents linked to the dispute.

There has been a number of serious violent disorder incidents linked to the dispute which kicked off during the first Covid lockdown in 2020.

However, it was felt that tensions had eased in recent months.

On other occasions mobs have travelled from the north inner city to the Pearse Street flats to engage in violent disorder.

Gardai have previously come under attack when they attempted to make arrests of some of the volatile individuals involved in the dispute.

Some of the men have multiple previous criminal convictions.

It is feared that Wednesday night’s incident could lead to more violent attacks between the opposing factions.

Frightening footage emerged yesterday of a large group of young man, some riding scramblers, as they approached the residential property on Sheriff Street on Wednesday night.

The incident unfolded at roughly 10pm on Wednesday when the bottom floor of the house became engulfed in flames.

At least ten men in balaclavas, some carrying weapons, carried out the assault on the building.

Footage taken from a top floor window nearby shows gang members throwing objects with one spraying a canister at the house’s exterior.

A man then lights a petrol bomb and throws it through a window.

An explosion bursts from the bottom floor window with smoke and flames rising upwards.

In a statement gardaí said they received a call about a fire at the property at roughly 10.15pm.

“The scene was preserved and a technical examination has been conducted.”

Investigations are continuing, gardaí added.