Saturday’s rally was the first time police used non-lethal weapons during a lockdown protest, with at least nine officers ending up in hospital
Victoria police were pelted with projectiles, punched and kicked by some members of a 4,000 strong crowd who turned out to protest Melbourne’s Covid lockdown. Photograph: Dave Hewison/Speed Media/REX/Shutterstock
Australian Associated Press
Sun 22 Aug 2021 04.02 BST
An anti-lockdown protest held in Melbourne on Saturday was one of the most violent the city has seen in 20 years, Victoria’s top police officer says.
Chief commissioner Shane Patton said his officers had no choice but to use non-lethal weapons to defend themselves from an angry mob that came armed and appeared intent on attacking them.
It is the first time during a lockdown protest, police have used such tactics that included rounds of pepper spray projectiles and canisters.
At least nine officers ended up in hospital after being pelted with projectiles, punched and kicked by some members of a 4,000 strong crowd who turned out to protest the city’s Covid-19 lockdown.
The mostly unmasked protesters let off flares, yelled slogans and blasted music as they moved through the CBD.
More than 700 extra Victorian police officers were deployed to contain the lockdown protest.
Patton said he was nothing short of disgusted with the conduct of some in the crowd
“What we saw yesterday … was probably one of the most violent protests we’ve seen in nearly 20 years,” he told reporters on Sunday.
More than 200 people were arrested including some on remand for previous crimes. At least 19 will be taken to court rather than issued with fines in excess of $5,000. Two people will face assault charges.
He said many in the crowd came armed with projectiles that were hurled at police and it was clear they were there not to protest for personal freedom but to “confront and attack”.
Eight of the nine wounded officers have since left hospital but one remains for further examination. Injuries included blows to the body, cuts, bruises, suspected broken noses, one possible incident of loss of consciousness, and one leg injury.
“It appears to us that they came in with an intention of that violence,” Patton said.
“This wasn’t a group that had a specific leader. It seemed that it was angry men … between 25 and 40,” he said, “who were intent on causing this mayhem, intent on being involved in this criminal activity.
“I just hope it doesn’t result in the mass spread of Covid-19. The risk that those people have now posed to the rest of the community, by their conduct yesterday, was disgraceful and selfish.”
Patton also revealed 48 people have been fined almost $5,500 each over an illegal engagement party in Caulfield North, including the future bride and groom.
That number is expected to rise with eight other attendees yet to be interviewed.
Australia anti-lockdown rallies: protesters violently clash with police in Melbourne
The rest of the people at that party were children. They’ve been warned and won’t receive fines.
On Sunday, hundreds of protesters gathered at the NSW-Queensland border for an anti-lockdown protest, waving signs reading “open the border now” and “I was born free”.
Video showed a man riding a horse encouraging people to cross the border, which Queensland has closed to all but essential workers who have received at least one vaccine dose.
NSW police arrested eight people and issued 50 infringement notices to protesters, while Queensland police arrested one person for disorderly conduct.
The police minister, David Elliott, said he was disappointed by the protest.
“Communities, across New South Wales are sick and tired of the abhorrent actions of the minority. We have seen this sort of behaviour result in further lockdowns; the very thing these individuals are protesting against,” Mr Elliott said.
Tweed residents, on the NSW side, have been hit hard by Queensland’s strict border rules.
It had asked NSW to notionally move the border south, to the Tweed River, but NSW refused, saying it would just shift the problem further south.
New South Wales police also arrested 47 people and fined more than 260 in relation to protests on Saturday.
They issued 137 tickets after stopping around 38,000 cars approaching Sydney city, while a 32-year-old man who allegedly assaulted an officer was arrested and charges were expected to be laid.
The constable was taken to hospital for head and neck injuries.
More than 2,000 people also gathered in Brisbane City Botanic Gardens on Saturday to rally against the lockdown and vaccine measures. Queensland police said no arrests had been made.
Australian Associated Press
Sun 22 Aug 2021 04.02 BST
An anti-lockdown protest held in Melbourne on Saturday was one of the most violent the city has seen in 20 years, Victoria’s top police officer says.
Chief commissioner Shane Patton said his officers had no choice but to use non-lethal weapons to defend themselves from an angry mob that came armed and appeared intent on attacking them.
It is the first time during a lockdown protest, police have used such tactics that included rounds of pepper spray projectiles and canisters.
At least nine officers ended up in hospital after being pelted with projectiles, punched and kicked by some members of a 4,000 strong crowd who turned out to protest the city’s Covid-19 lockdown.
The mostly unmasked protesters let off flares, yelled slogans and blasted music as they moved through the CBD.
More than 700 extra Victorian police officers were deployed to contain the lockdown protest.
Patton said he was nothing short of disgusted with the conduct of some in the crowd
“What we saw yesterday … was probably one of the most violent protests we’ve seen in nearly 20 years,” he told reporters on Sunday.
More than 200 people were arrested including some on remand for previous crimes. At least 19 will be taken to court rather than issued with fines in excess of $5,000. Two people will face assault charges.
He said many in the crowd came armed with projectiles that were hurled at police and it was clear they were there not to protest for personal freedom but to “confront and attack”.
Eight of the nine wounded officers have since left hospital but one remains for further examination. Injuries included blows to the body, cuts, bruises, suspected broken noses, one possible incident of loss of consciousness, and one leg injury.
“It appears to us that they came in with an intention of that violence,” Patton said.
“This wasn’t a group that had a specific leader. It seemed that it was angry men … between 25 and 40,” he said, “who were intent on causing this mayhem, intent on being involved in this criminal activity.
“I just hope it doesn’t result in the mass spread of Covid-19. The risk that those people have now posed to the rest of the community, by their conduct yesterday, was disgraceful and selfish.”
Patton also revealed 48 people have been fined almost $5,500 each over an illegal engagement party in Caulfield North, including the future bride and groom.
That number is expected to rise with eight other attendees yet to be interviewed.
Australia anti-lockdown rallies: protesters violently clash with police in Melbourne
The rest of the people at that party were children. They’ve been warned and won’t receive fines.
On Sunday, hundreds of protesters gathered at the NSW-Queensland border for an anti-lockdown protest, waving signs reading “open the border now” and “I was born free”.
Video showed a man riding a horse encouraging people to cross the border, which Queensland has closed to all but essential workers who have received at least one vaccine dose.
NSW police arrested eight people and issued 50 infringement notices to protesters, while Queensland police arrested one person for disorderly conduct.
The police minister, David Elliott, said he was disappointed by the protest.
“Communities, across New South Wales are sick and tired of the abhorrent actions of the minority. We have seen this sort of behaviour result in further lockdowns; the very thing these individuals are protesting against,” Mr Elliott said.
Tweed residents, on the NSW side, have been hit hard by Queensland’s strict border rules.
It had asked NSW to notionally move the border south, to the Tweed River, but NSW refused, saying it would just shift the problem further south.
New South Wales police also arrested 47 people and fined more than 260 in relation to protests on Saturday.
They issued 137 tickets after stopping around 38,000 cars approaching Sydney city, while a 32-year-old man who allegedly assaulted an officer was arrested and charges were expected to be laid.
The constable was taken to hospital for head and neck injuries.
More than 2,000 people also gathered in Brisbane City Botanic Gardens on Saturday to rally against the lockdown and vaccine measures. Queensland police said no arrests had been made.
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