Hunt for Land Forces protesters as detectives investigate assaults and criminal damage
Police have identified a third person they were seeking after last month’s volatile Land Forces protests, while the hunt continues for six more.
Victoria
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Police have identified a third person they were seeking after last month’s volatile Land Forces protests.
They are still looking for six more after going public with images of nine demonstrators they wanted over the September 11 demonstration centred on the Spencer St area.
Police say none of those identified has been arrested.
A specialist taskforce is searching for the remaining protesters involved in ugly scenes outside the Land Forces military expo last month.
Detectives from Bastion Taskforce investigating assaults and criminal damage incidents have released a series of images in an attempt to identify the people pictured at the September 11 demonstration.
A ninth protester that had been on the police radar was identified early on Wednesday.
Activists and police clashed near the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on that day.
Police say rocks, projectiles, liquid which smelt strongly of vomit, horse manure, eggs and “liquid irritants” were hurled at officers, horses and those attending the event.
It is alleged a mounted branch member had a full can of drink thrown directly at her head and that several police riders and their horses were splashed with a liquid irritant, which was also sprayed under face protectors.
The liquid went into their mouths and nostrils as they were repeatedly pushed and hit with plastic crates, police say.
“As part of their ongoing assault and animal cruelty investigation, detectives have today released images of eight men and one woman in the hope they can assist with their inquiries,” a Victoria Police statement said.
The force statement said 27 officers from Victoria and interstate needed medical treatment.
Around 12 horses were exposed to various substances sprayed at them.
“All were assessed by trained staff immediately after the rally and cleared to return to work on veterinary advice,” the statement said.
Investigators are also looking for a man who set a council bin alight on Spencer St.
They have released an image of a man in a blue T-shirt who they believe may be able to help that inquiry.
Police say 89 people have already been charged or issued with fines for offences including hindering and obstructing police, behaving in a riotous manner, assaulting police, weapons offences and arson.
“Further arrests are expected,” the statement said.
An estimated 1200 protesters attended Land Forces.
Chief Commissioner Shane Patton later branded the worst of the behaviour as “disgusting” and moved to defend his members’ use of pepper spray and stun grenades during the chaos.
The weapons convention sparked Victoria Police’s biggest security operation in two decades, with an estimated $30m price tag.
It covered 12,000 policing shifts, involved importing cops from NSW and Western Australia and providing accommodation for those from country areas and interstate.
Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Originally published as Hunt for Land Forces protesters as detectives investigate assaults and criminal damage
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