Anti-mask protester arrested at SA’s daily Covid briefing after attempting to speak with Premier Steven Marshall
A man carrying an anti-mask placard has been arrested after attempting to engage Premier Steven Marshall at his daily Covid briefing. See the dramatic incident here.
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A review has been launched after a masked man with anti-mask placards was dramatically arrested by the Premier’s police bodyguard following Steven Marshall’s daily Covid briefing.
In the second major security scare in a week, the man, 46, who refused to give his name, had been watching and filming Mr Marshall outside Botanic High School as he updated the state on the latest Covid numbers (3493 new cases and 125 patients in hospital).
As Mr Marshall finished his briefing, the northern suburbs man, wearing blue shorts and a grey t-shirt, shouted inaudible questions and attempted to approach him.
But he was restrained by a plain-clothed policeman, a highly trained STAR Group officer, as the Premier left by a different route.
A lengthy scuffle ensued and the man – who was wearing a mask but carrying a cardboard placard with anti-mask messaging – was eventually restrained and arrested after several minutes of resisting police orders.
After reinforcements from the heavily armed Security Response Section arrived, the man was taken away in a marked police van.
Mr Marshall had briefly glanced at the man, who was also wearing a camera, during his briefing but did not directly engage with him.
Police later said in a statement that at 12.50pm on Wednesday a man was at a press conference trying to ask Mr Marshall questions “when he started acting in a disorderly manner”.
The Elizabeth Grove man has been charged with disorderly behaviour and refusing to give a name. He was granted police bail to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court in March.
“The security of the Premier is constantly reviewed, and this incident is no exception,” a police spokeswoman said.
The Premier’s spokeswoman said it was an SA Police matter.
“The Premier’s official security arrangements and resources are also a matter for (SA Police),” he said.
Last week, police were called after a heckler interrupted the Premier’s briefing in the southern parklands.
A bodyguard has since attended the press briefings.
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