Punches thrown, police horse hit with pole as Melbourne protest turns violent
Shocking footage of violence and abuse at Friday’s anti-lockdown protest has sparked outrage in the community, with police releasing images of people they want to speak to about a number of incidents.
HS Coronavirus News
Don't miss out on the headlines from HS Coronavirus News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Police are on the hunt for a man who allegedly hit a horse in the face with a flagpole at Friday’s anti-lockdown protest at the Shrine of Remembrance.
A woman is also on the radar of the crime squad after she was seen allegedly kicking police horses.
The horses were not injured during the assaults, but police want to speak to the pair in relation to animal cruelty offences.
Images and footage from Friday’s anti-lockdown protest at the Shrine of Remembrance have been released with hopes of finding protesters who committed a series of acts of animal cruelty and theft.
Police are also searching for two men who were captured damaging a police vehicle.
Another man is facing theft charges after allegedly stealing a police officer’s hat during the rally.
The investigation comes after police said they were “extremely disappointed” that the protest had taken place on October 23.
The gathering drew hundreds of protesters to the Shrine of Remembrance to rally against the lockdown and the state government.
As tensions boiled over, the rally turned violent and a police horse was struck multiple times in the head by a man with a wooden flag pole, while another man kicked it.
Scuffles emerged and punches were thrown at police while obscenities were yelled at officers.
CCTV, media footage and images from body worn cameras will be analysed to identify those who assaulted the police horses.
Thugs targeted a lone police van by kicking it, striking it and hitting the side mirror off.
A police officer was taken to hospital and two others injured.
A police spokeswoman said Victoria Police were “extremely disappointed” at the protesters who showed a “complete disregard” for the soon-to-be lifted restrictions.
Police are also investigating an incident during which a man hit several police horses in the face with a flagpole.
The horses were not seriously injured.
“Victoria Police will not accept the selfish behaviour of those who continue to breach the CHO directions,” the spokeswoman said.
Flares were lit and fireworks let off as some protesters splintered off while a man allegedly stole a police officer’s cap.
Social distancing was ignored as people stood shoulder to shoulder and many in the crowd did not wear face masks.
Victoria Police confirmed 16 people were arrested and 61 penalty notices were issued for a range of offences.
At one stage the protest group considered walking into oncoming traffic down the Burnley tunnel.
The four-hour protest ended when police cornered the group at the United service station on Kings Way after they walked on to the busy thoroughfare and shut down traffic.
Anti-lockdown protest: Flares let off on Park St. @theheraldsun pic.twitter.com/a3FXJIfphw
— Brianna Travers (@briannatravers) October 23, 2020
From there, protesters were arrested one by one before their details were processed.
Some cried, while others said they would not pay their fines.
Werribee woman Payton Herewini-Nunn, 23, was arrested and fined. She said she protested because the rules weren’t fair. “This whole thing is bullshit,” she told the Saturday Herald Sun.
“I’m not going to pay it. It has been a success, we took the police on a massive f--king goose chase.”
Melton South woman Capri Ngakete, who was also arrested, said she attended to “fight for our freedom” in a peaceful manner. “The government has a hidden agenda and it is not right,” she said.
Anti-lockdown protest: Ugly scenes on Princes Bridge. A man has struck a police horse with his flag. @theheraldsun pic.twitter.com/U3IBXTLgri
— Brianna Travers (@briannatravers) October 23, 2020
Police were able to outsmart the protesters who wanted to march through the CBD to the steps of Parliament House.
Some of the signs protesters carried included: “I should be at a barbecue”, “media is the real virus” and “Corona hoax 1984”.
The national anthem “Advance Australia Fair” was sung as well as “We are Australian”.
The mammoth effort from police included officers from the public order response team, the mounted brigade, the air wing and the evidence gathering team.
Three police officers were injured during the protest, with one taken to hospital as a precaution.
An anti-lockdown conspiracy theorist was arrested and handcuffed by police while his young child watched.
Tony Pecora, 43, was detained by police outside a Kings Way petrol station about 5pm as he watched an anti-lockdown protest unfold while allegedly not wearing a face mask.
He was handcuffed by police while holding his 7-year-old son’s hand.
“We hadn’t come in today,” Mr Pecora said while handcuffed.
Mr Pecora was charged with incitement over his alleged role in the organisation of a “Melbourne Freedom Walk” in September, which was prohibited under stage four lockdown restrictions.
The former candidate for Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party was granted bail at the time with strict conditions including not attending future protest gatherings.
Victoria Police have been contacted for comment.
MORE NEWS
CHANGES TO 25KM TRAVEL LIMIT ON THE CARDS, PREMIER SAYS
LITTLE RIVER TO BE REUNITED AFTER ‘RING OF STEEL’ MOVED