More than £270,000 has been raised for a “hero” Deliveroo driver who used his motorcycle helmet to fell a knifeman as he attacked children at a school in Dublin.
Caio Benicio, a 43-year-old originally from Rio de Janeiro, was riding past on his motorbike when he spotted the attack in Parnell Square East and used his helmet to hit the assailant.
A five-year-old girl who was knifed in the chest outside the Gaelscoil Colaiste Mhuire remains in a critical condition in hospital.
Her teacher, in her 30s, is also in a serious condition.
An online fundraising page called “Buy Caio Benicio a pint” had raised more than €320,000 (£278,000) by Saturday morning.
More than 30,000 donations have been made to help beat the initial €200,000 (£173,000) target.
The capital descended into chaos after the attack, as far-right rioters took to the streets. Mr Benicio told reporters he was saddened by the violence.
He said: "It looks like they hate immigrants. Well, I am an immigrant, and I did what I could to try and save that little girl.
"When I saw the knife, I stopped my bike and I just acted by instinct. I didn't even make a decision, it was pure instinct, and it was all over in seconds. He fell to the ground.
"I have two kids, so I had to do something. I did what anyone would do. People were there but they couldn't step in because he was armed, but I knew I could use my helmet as a weapon."
He said he took his helmet off and hit the man in the head with it "with all of my power", adding: "Later on I found out [the woman] was the teacher. She was very, very brave."
The Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, paid tribute to all those who stepped in to help, saying they "risked their lives to save lives".
He added: "Those who intervened weren't just from Ireland - they were from other countries as well.
"They are real Irish heroes, whatever their nationality."
