Gardaí say they came under attack last night at a site earmarked for asylum seekers in Wicklow.
Three garda cars were damaged and six people have been arrested after fires were lit in Newtownmountkennedy.
Footage emerged on social media showing a blaze outside Trudder House which is to accommodate asylum seekers.
Gardaí say they received both verbal and physical abuse throughout the day, which escalated into rocks and other missiles being thrown at them.
Officers used force including pepper spray to defend themselves as part of an escalated response to the situation that saw the Public Order Unit brought in. Fifty officers attended the scene.
Three Garda Patrol cars were damaged, with windows broken and tyres slashed.
A number of trespassers were also identified and removed from the IPAS site last night.
Six people have been arrested and are currently detained at Garda stations in Wicklow.
Gardaí say they are also aware of misinformation and disinformation being spread in relation to the incident.
A spokesperson says: "An Garda Síochána respects the right for citizens to exercise their constitutional rights; this right does not extend to breaches of Criminal Law, the interference with the rights of other citizens to carry out their daily activities, or to attack members of An Garda Síochána."
