Anti-lockdown protest turns violent in Melbourne as demonstrators additionally rally in Sydney and Brisbane
A big and violent anti-lockdown protest has led to Melbourne, with Victoria Police reporting the arrests of 218 individuals and the hospitalisation of six officers.
Greater than 4,000 individuals flocked to the Melbourne CBD on Saturday for the illegal occasion, as comparable, smaller demonstrations had been additionally held in Sydney and Brisbane.
Some 700 cops had been deployed on Saturday morning as protesters converged outdoors Victoria’s Parliament Home.
Victoria Police mentioned in a press release on Saturday night nearly all of those that attended the protest “got here with violence in thoughts”.
“The behaviour seen by police was so hostile and aggressive that they had been left with no selection however to make use of all techniques obtainable to them,” the assertion mentioned.
“For the primary time throughout lockdown protests, police had been pressured to make use of a variety of non-lethal choices together with pepper ball rounds and OC foam canisters in an effort to disperse the gang.”
Police mentioned they issued 236 fines and had three individuals in custody for assaulting officers. Each arrested protester can be fined $5,452, they mentioned.
Chief Commissioner Shane Patton mentioned on Saturday morning police had been fining individuals for being greater than 5km from house even earlier than the protest started.
Victoria recorded 61 new domestically acquired coronavirus circumstances on Saturday, together with 39 that had been infectious locally.
Premier Daniel Andrews condemned the protesters throughout his every day press convention.
“Protesting doesn’t work in opposition to this virus. The truth is, it should contribute to the unfold of this virus, and the extra circumstances we’ve got the longer we’ll be locked down,” he mentioned.
In Sydney, the presence of a minimum of 1,500 cops prevented massive numbers from attending an indication within the metropolis.
In a press release on Saturday afternoon, NSW Police Pressure mentioned it arrested 47 individuals and issued 261 penalty infringement notices throughout the Sydney CBD and regional NSW.
NSW Police Minister David Elliott mentioned he was dissatisfied some individuals ignored warnings to remain at house.
“[It] is disappointing, irritating and – frankly – disgraceful,” he mentioned.
“The actions they’ve taken are prone to delay the very lockdown they had been protesting about.”
Taxis and Ubers had been banned from taking passengers into the CBD till 3pm.
Protesters collect for a ‘Nationwide Rally for Peace, Freedom and Human Rights’ on the Botanic Gardens in Brisbane, on 21 August 2021.
An estimated crowd of 1000’s additionally gathered in Brisbane Metropolis Botanic Gardens on Saturday to rally in opposition to lockdown and vaccine measures.
Queensland Police mentioned no arrests had been made.
Source: Global News, Copyright @ 2021, Global News.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
