At a Melbourne anti-war show, hundreds of people were detained after making arrests with authorities.
Authorities said they were “appalled” by some demonstrators ‘ activities at a military equipment income show in Australia’s second-largest area, accusing them of pelting officers with stones, dung, and bottles filled with acid.
In contrast, protestors claimed that officers were overbearing and used flashbang grenades and irritating sprays to fend off the hostile crowd.
Australians had a right to protest, but they had to do so in a quiet way, according to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who condemned the crime.
” You do n’t say you’re opposed to defence equipment by throwing things at police”, Mr Albanese told local media. They have a task to accomplish, and our police officers should always be respected.
About 1,200 people, mostly dressed Arab banners and sang pro-Palestinian chants, were said to have participated in the demo targeting the Property Forces International Land Defence Exposition.
Officers had anticipated turmoil prior to the event, which is expected to bring in over 1, 000 businesses from 31 nations in the upcoming days. The exhibition, which is not open to the public, brings up military, military, government, clinical and business delegations from around the world.
Local media reported military weaponry, cars and semi-automatic arms have been on display during the convention. Many of the arms on display have been used by Israeli troops in Gaza, according to activists who had claimed they were protesting.
In the clashes, footage showed dumpsters being pushed toward police lines as demonstrators blocked roads and many fires lit throughout the city. At a set of customers lights, an activist climbed on top of a static vehicle.
According to Victoria position Police Commissioner Commissioner Shane Patton, about 20 police officials received treatment for injuries sustained during the unrest. He told investigators 39 people had been arrested in Wednesday’s confrontations.
Commissioner Patton accused those behind the violence of being “hypocrites”, adding demonstrators said they wanted to “protest against war, so presumably]were ] anti-violence”.
However, demonstrators have criticized his officers for being exceedingly heavy-handed. Organisators expressed concern over the level of violence against group members who are “protesting for peace.”
” The officers have been extremely aggressive towards protest now, really in an extraordinary way”, Jasmine Duff, an advocate from Learners for Palestine, said.
” They used flashbang bombs, they’ve been pepper spraying people very viciously”.
Although some journalists reported seeing police firing rubber bullets, Commissioner Patton claimed the weapons were really hard foam stick rounds.
According to officials, extra police were deployed to protect the event for approximately A$ 10 million ( £7.6 million ), with officers reportedly recruited from New South Wales.
” It’s absolutely outrageous that reportedly$ 10 million has been spent on this police presence”, one of the protest group organisers, Anneke Demanuele from Students for Palestine, told ABC News.
Victoria Premier Jacinta Allan defended the state’s management of the event, claiming that Melbourne residents had the right to collect there.
Any industry, she said, “deserves the right to hold these kinds of events in a calm and polite manner.”