Melbourne anti-lockdown protest ‘one of the most violent’ in 20 years
Anti-lockdown protesters are targeting individual police officers in the wake of Saturday’s shocking rally.
Victoria
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Anti-lockdown protesters are targeting individual police officers in the wake of Saturday’s shocking rally — described by Victoria’s top cop as one of the most violent in two decades.
Messages sent by protesters on the social media app Telegram, which have been seen by the Herald Sun, claim to have identified one of the officers carrying a pepper ball pellet launcher.
One member of the chat sent an image of the officer and encouraged others to “doxx” him, which means to reveal a person’s private information.
“Let’s find where this c--- lives,” they said.
It comes as Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton lashed the actions of more than 4000 “diehard” protesters who defied chief health officer directions on Saturday to rally against Victoria’s lockdown.
“These people came along with an intention … to be confrontational and to engage in criminal behaviour.”
Mr Patton said flares, beer bottles and even marbles were launched at officers and their horses.
“You come to work, you don’t expect to get belted in the head,” Mr Patton said, revealing one officer had been assaulted, pushed against a wall, repeatedly punched and possibly kicked.
Two people have been remanded over this incident.
Nine officers were taken to hospital, where one remains with a leg injury that could require surgery.
Mr Patton defended the use of non-lethal weapons, such as pepper ball rounds, saying it was “absolutely justified”.
“My police officers … acted appropriately, they defended themselves, they took the necessary action they had to,” he said.
“We did what we were supposed to do.”
He also revealed Victoria Police considered shutting down the public transport network on Saturday and preventing taxi and Uber vehicles from entering the city.
“It’s a huge call but it’s one that we’re seriously going to entertain on the next occasion because I’m not going to tolerate this occurring again,” he said. “We will be taking as many actions as we can … to make sure that my officers are not placed at risk by thugs that we saw yesterday.”
More than 260 protesters will receive penalty notices, with about 20 to face court.
“The risk that those people have now posed to the rest of the community by their conduct is disgraceful and selfish,” Mr Patton said.
Health Minister Martin Foley slammed the actions of those at Saturday’s protest.
“I was horrified … that supposedly an event that was there to express concerns about the lockdown is essentially running the risks of prolonging the lockdown,” he said.
Several rowdy protesters were also doused with pepper spray as police tried to subdue “hostile and aggressive” behaviour.
A Victoria Police spokeswoman said police “were left with no choice but to use all tactics available to them” as tensions at the rally escalated.
“For the first time during lockdown protests, police were forced to use a range of nonlethal options including pepper ball rounds and OC foam canisters in an effort to disperse the crowd,” the spokeswoman said.
The Chief Commissioner said the use of nonlethal weapons, such as pepper ball rounds, was “absolutely justified”.
“I’m very pleased that the officers on the ground made that tactical decision because it certainly caused de-escalation of the activities by the offenders,” Mr Patton said.
Police arrested 218 people, issued 236 fines and have three people in custody for assaulting police.
More than 260 protesters will receive penalty notices, with around 19 to face court.
“The risk that those people have now posed to the rest of the community by their conduct yesterday is disgraceful and selfish,” Mr Patton said.
One person was also arrested for breaching bail conditions.
Every arrested protester will be fined $5452 for breaching CHO directions.
Further investigations will be conducted into the protest including the assault of police officers and use of flares.
FLARES, CHANTING CHAOS AS POLICE AND PROTESTERS CLASH
Chaotic scenes erupted near the corner of Elizabeth and Therry streets in Melbourne’s CBD as riot police clashed with protesters at 2pm.
Pellets were charged at protesters as they ran away from police.
Skirmishes happened after rowdy protesters were doused with pepper spray in front of Parliament House shortly after the protest started.
More than 1000 people joined the rally through the streets of Melbourne, with a large number police out in force.
At least six flares were lit, with people screaming at police: “Shame on you, shame on the lot of you”.
Chaos broke out at 12.30pm and escalated throughout the day.
Protesters made a move forward and were met with pepper spray and force.
Some were arrested, others stopped marching to tend to their injuries, with a handful using a water tap to soothe spray burns.
Some could be seen using cartons of milk, tipping whole bottles on their faces.
One woman sprayed said she was in “agony”.
“How could they do this to me,” she screamed.
Other marchers were undeterred by the clash with police, making their way along Queen St and Flinders St.
Some protesters carried signs reading “vaccines kill” and “open schools and parks now”.
As music blared, the crowd chanted: “Sack Dan Andrews.”
Protesters were also shouting “sheep, sheep, sheep” at people waiting in line for a Covid test on Bourke St.
Dozens of mounted police patrolled the entrance to Flinders St Station as protesters encouraged each other to march through them.
A CBD resident about 10 floors up threw water on the protesters.
The resident was met with boos from the crowd.
“Freedom” protests were held in every state capital except Hobart.
A police officer at the protest said the bulk of protesters comprised “people trying to find a platform for their issues”.
Angry conspiracy theorists with a pre-existing distaste for police were among the hardliners.
Flares are being lit as hundreds chant “freedomâ€. A heavy police presence continues to surround protestors. @theheraldsunpic.twitter.com/T9Rbmx0sF7
— Suzan Delibasic (@suzandelibasic) August 21, 2021
Dozens of anti-lockdown protestors have descended upon the corner of Little Bourke St chanting “freedomâ€. @theheraldsunpic.twitter.com/ixEHRTcIeB
— Suzan Delibasic (@suzandelibasic) August 21, 2021
Flares are being set off by protestors, with some just discarded onto the road @theheraldsunpic.twitter.com/sHDDvRxzSG
— Laura Placella (@lauraplacella) August 21, 2021
— Additional reporting: Brianna Travers, Mark Buttler
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