An investigation is under way into an alleged assault on a senior Muslim cleric in Dublin last night.
Chairperson of the Irish Muslim Council Shaykh Dr Umar Al-Qadri has said he was the victim of a "deliberate hate crime" in Dublin.
Writing on X, Dr Al-Qadri said he was attacked after he met two people at a prearranged meeting.
He wrote: "The next thing I remember is feeling disoriented in my car, surrounded by helpful Irish neighbours of the area I was visiting, as the Gardaí and ambulance arrived.
"I was injured and had lost consciousness, but my mobile phone was still with me, allowing me to contact my friends who arrived within 15 minutes. They took me to the hospital where I stayed overnight."
Dr Al-Qadri said he is "doing alright".
He said he had a CT scan and "thankfully, there is no brain injury or broken jaw, but the left side of my face is severely swollen and my front teeth are damaged."
He thanked "the kind Irish lady and two Irish gentlemen who assisted me when I collapsed and safely helped me to my car".
Gardaí said in a statement that they are investigating a robbery and assault, which occurred in Tallaght, yesterday evening and that one man required medical attention following the incident.
However, Dr Al-Qadri said his attackers "did not want to rob me. It was a preplanned attack intended to cause harm. My mobile phone, car and watch was not taken."
Detectives have yet to formally interview Dr Al-Qadri.
Dr Al-Qadri is the head of the Islamic Educational and Cultural Centre in Ireland and the founder of Irish Muslim Peace and Integration and has lived in Ireland for the last 21 years.
A friend of Dr Al-Qadri said the incident has had a huge impact on the Muslim community.
Speaking on RTÉ's News at One, Assad Ali said Dr Al-Qadri said that he recalled arranging to meet two people about a wedding, but when he arrived to the address he was given, there was no one there.
He said when he got out of his car he was hit in the face and knocked down.
"He can't remember anything that happened (after that). He was very thankful to the guys that rescued him, it could have been worse. A huge credit goes to the locals who ran in and saved him straight away", Mr Ali said.
