Six protesters arrested after police claim officers assaulted, coughed on at anti-5G protest in Suffolk Park

Protesters were charged with a number of offences, including offensive behaviour, throwing objects at vehicles, disobeying directions and assaulting police.

Police vehicles in Pecan Court, off Bottlebrush Crescent, in Suffolk Park. Officers have attended an anti-5G protest in the area on Monday, July 12, 2021. Picture: Javier Encalada

Six more people were arrested and charged by police after anti-5G protesters blocked access to a water tank in Suffolk Park, near Byron Bay on Tuesday.

Tweed Byron Police District Inspector Matt Kehoe said police were called to the site in Pecan St, Suffolk Park, at around 9am on Tuesday.

“Police issued a direction for people to allow workers access to the site, a number of them failed to comply,” he said.

“Six people were arrested, taken to Byron Bay Police station, and charged with a number of offences, including offensive behaviour, throwing objects at vehicles, disobeying directions and assaulting police”.

Insp Kehoe said one female officer was allegedly assaulted, but she did not require medical attention.

He said the female who allegedly assaulted the officer then deliberately coughed on a number of other police officers while she was being arrested.

“In the present Covid environment, it’s a deplorable action from that individual,” he said.

Police left the site at around 1pm, Insp Kehoe said.

“The work continued shortly after those arrests were made,” he said.

All people charged will face Byron Bay Local Court on August 9.

This was the second day of protests at the site. On Monday, another nine people were arrested for similar offences.