A fire sparked by fireworks at an Irish asylum center forced evacuations and hospitalizations, prompting a criminal investigation.

A fire at an Irish asylum accommodation center in Drogheda, caused by fireworks thrown into the building, led to the evacuation of residents including four children and a baby on Friday evening. The blaze, reported around 8 p.m., prompted emergency response efforts, with several people hospitalized for medical evaluation. Ireland’s Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan condemned the incident as a criminal act endangering vulnerable individuals and confirmed a Garda investigation is underway, with alternative housing being arranged and those responsible warned of serious consequences.