‘No misconduct’: Cop backs action of police after Greens candidate injured during protest scuffle

A cop has backed the actions of police after a Greens candidate claimed she may have lost vision in her eye following a protest.

A top cop has backed the actions of police after a former Greens candidate claimed she may be left without vision in her eye following a clash with officers at a protest.

Hannah Thomas was charged by police after she suffered graphic injuries during a pro-Palestine protest outside a Sydney business on Friday.

She was photographed with a damaged left eye and streaks of blood caked onto her cheek following the protest outside SEC Plating in Belmore in Sydney’s southwest.

Protesters picketed the company because of reports it provided components in jets that are used by the Israeli Defence Force, the NSW Greens said in a statement.

NSW Police said police attempted to disperse the protesters and issued a move-on order to about 60 people, stating the protest was not authorised.

“As police attempted to arrest the protesters who were not complying with the directions, a scuffle ensued between police and protesters,” NSW Police said in a statement.

Hannah Thomas was injured and arrested during an anti-Israel protest. Picture: Supplied/Selfie

Police previously charged four people with a variety of offences.

Ms Thomas has since claimed in a video posted to social media that she may have suffered permanent vision damage following the protest.

“I don’t want to get into too much detail about the traumatic events on Friday, but I’m five foot one, I weigh about 45kg, I was engaged in peaceful protest, and my interactions with NSW Police have left me potentially without vision in my right eye permanently,” Ms Thomas said in the video, shared by MP Sue Higginson.

She claimed the injuries were a result of “draconian anti-protest laws” brought in by the Minns government.

However, NSW Police southwest metropolitan region commander Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden rejected this, telling 2GB’s Ben Fordham that the new legislation wasn’t applicable to this situation andwas an unauthorised protest.

He said he backed the actions of police.

“The information available to me, there’s no misconduct identified, and I back the actions of my police,” Mr McFadden told the program on Monday morning.

Thomas after the protest with what appears to be visible swelling around her eye. Picture: Supplied

Mr McFadden told the program that Ms Thomas resisted arrest and was injured as other people tried to pull her away. He said police hadn’t been able to get information from medical staff and Ms Thomas’ solicitor about the nature of her injuries.

“No information has been provided to us, and that’s fine, that’s their choice, that’s something that they’re able to do,” Mr McFadden said.

“Equally then I make a decision based on the information that is available to me, and I’m comfortable based on the information that’s provided to me that I did not declare the matter a critical incident.”

Police issued Ms Thomas with a future court attendance notice on Sunday and charged her with hinder/resist police and refuse/fail to comply with direction to disperse.

She will appear in Bankstown Local Court on August 12.

She claims she may have suffered permanent vision damage following the protest. Picture: Facebook.

A photo taken after the incident showed Ms Thomas standing next to an officer with visible swelling around her eye.

Ms Thomas underwent surgery and remained in hospital on Sunday.

The Greens said in a statement on Friday that NSW Police had “violently attacked and assaulted protesters” at the “peaceful picket … leaving one woman with serious facial injuries and arresting multiple demonstrators”.

“SEC Plating reportedly is involved in providing plating services for various parts used in F-35 jets,” the statement said.

“The State of Israel’s fleet of around 40 F-35 rely on the global supply chain and supplement supply from countries like Australia to continue the genocide against the Palestinian people.”

The Greens said Peter O’Brien Lawyers has been engaged to represent Ms Thomas and other protesters.

Ms Thomas challenged Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in the federal seat of Grayndler at the federal election earlier this year.

Originally published as ‘No misconduct’: Cop backs action of police after Greens candidate injured during protest scuffle