An Indian cab driver in Ireland has become the latest victim in a rising wave of racist attacks.
Lakhvir Singh, who has lived in Ireland for over 23 years and driven a taxi for more than 10, was attacked by two young men during a ride in Dublin. According to Dublin Live, when Singh dropped them off in Poppintree, they suddenly opened his door and hit him on the head with a bottle. While fleeing, they shouted, “Go back to your own country.”
Singh, bleeding and shaken, went door-to-door for help but got no response. He eventually called 999 and was taken to Beaumont Hospital by emergency services. Though he didn’t suffer serious injuries, Singh said the incident left him emotionally scarred. “I’m really scared now, and I’m off the road at the moment,” he said. “My children are really scared.”
This is just one of several recent racist attacks on Indians in Ireland.
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On July 27, tech professional Santosh Yadav, 32, was assaulted near his Dublin apartment by six teenagers. They smashed his glasses and beat him severely. “They attacked me from behind… leaving me bleeding on the pavement,” Yadav shared on LinkedIn. He also warned that such attacks are becoming common across the city.
Just a week earlier, a 40-year-old Indian man was beaten and stripped in Tallaght by a group of teenagers after false accusations. A passerby, Jennifer Murray, helped him, saying, “I saw this man… pleading, ‘please help me, please save me.’”
On the same day, another Indian student from Dublin Business School was punched in the face by teens in Sean Walsh Park, leaving him with a broken nose.
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The constant attacks have raised fears among the Indians in Dublin. In view of this, the Indian Embassy in Ireland issued a safety advisory for Indians to stay alert when they are out late or alone. A helpline is also activated for citizens working with local authorities to follow up on such incidents.
Meanwhile, questions on why these attacks are happening persist.
ALSO READ: Indian Man Stripped and Attacked in Ireland Sparks Racism Backlash
Experts suggest that a growing anti-immigrant agenda might be the reason for the violence. Between 2204-2024, Ireland has seen a major rise in immigration with over 150,000 people moving there. This number is the highest in 17 years. The Indian population has grown by nearly 300% in a decade, and Indians received the most skilled work permits in 2024.
Locals blame immigrants for the increasing housing prices and limited resources. the resentment may be fueling the rise in hate and crimes targeting Indians.
