Brazilian delivery man Caio Benicio has been hailed a hero after he subdued the knifeman by hitting him on the head with his motorbike helmet.

Three young children and a creche worker, believed to be in her 30s, were injured in the attack in the Irish capital just after 1.30pm on Thursday.

Read more: What's going on in Dublin?

A five-year-old girl and woman remain in a serious condition in hospital, police said earlier.

Riots later broke out in the city on Thursday night in a rampage which officers blamed on a "lunatic faction driven by far-right ideology".

Police have not revealed any further details about the attacker or his motivation, but have said the incident did not appear to be terror-related.

But, in an apparent rebuff to anti-immigrant commentary online and from some rioters, an online fundraising page called "Buy Caio Benicio a pint" has gone viral and had raised more than €320,000 (£278,000) by Saturday morning.

More than 30,000 donations have been made, helping to smash the initial €200,000 (£173,000) target.

Many of those who have donated praised the Brazilian for his bravery.

Another appeal in aid of the victims has also raised more than €160,000 (£140,000).

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Earlier on Friday the delivery driver described how he was travelling past the school when he saw the attacker grab a girl and take out a knife.

"When I saw the knife, I stopped my bike and I just acted by instinct," he told the PA news agency.

Mr Benicio added that he took his helmet off and hit the man in the head "with all of my power".

The father-of-two added: "I didn't even know there was more kids that were (hurt) at that time. I thought it was just one girl but afterwards I (found) out there are more people, more kids.

"I wish the family all the best. I pray for her to survive."

When asked about the riots, Mr Benicio said: "I'm here for about 20 years now, I don't know politics here deeply to have an opinion about it.

"What I can say is I know the protest is against immigrants and for me it doesn't make sense because I'm an immigrant myself and I was the one who helped out."

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said anyone who risked their lives to save lives are "real Irish heroes, whatever their nationality", while his deputy Micheal Martin said Mr Benicio's part "should not be forgotten".

He added: "We had a horrific, violent attack on children and adults, we think of them and we think of the Deliveroo person who came along to save the situation, perhaps for other children," he said.

Police have arrested 34 people following Thursday night's violence, in which a bus, tram and police vehicles were set on fire.

More than a dozen businesses were also severely damaged or looted.