Protesters encouraged to perform citizen’s arrests via ‘wanted’ posters of defence industry identities

Activists are using encrypted chats to share ways to wreak havoc at the Land Forces expo, with protesters being urged to conduct citizen’s arrests on former politicians.

Former defence ministers Brendan Nelson and Christopher Pyne are among several high-profile targets that protesters are being urged to conduct citizen arrests on at the Land Forces conference.

Organisers are using an encrypted message service to communicate with almost 450 people, issuing an instruction manual in the lead up to the violent anti-war, anti-Israel rally.

Christopher Pyne on a ‘wanted’ posted distributed by protesters.

Communication between protesters at the Disrupt Land Forces rally.

Protesters discuss how to disrupt MCEC staff trying to get to work.

Shortly after 9am organisers put the call out for people to “go buy shitloads of eggs” saying they had a “budget”.

They also encouraged people to “spread out” and move to the end of police lines.

“We way outnumber police ... they can’t police all of us,” one message states.

In the lead up to the event, organisers shared “wanted posters” for the heads of major defence companies “for aiding and abetting genocide”.

“If you see this person please effect a citizen’s arrest. Call for help. The offender is armed and dangerous,” the posters state.

Brendan Nelson on a wanted posted distributed by protesters.

Mr Nelson, who is the president of Boeing International, Mr Pyne, who is chair of munitions company NIOA’s advisory board, were listed targets.

Former senator David Feeney, who is also on NIOA’s board, was also among executives from Boeing, Thales Australia, Elbit Systems and Hanwha chairman.

An instruction manual told protesters to bring “love”, face masks, goggles, spare hoodies, ear plugs, waterproof ponchos, pots and pans to make noise.

A list of what to bring to the protest at the Land Forces Expo.

A list of what not to bring to the protest.

Protesters were told to bring a hat, wear pants, jeans, boots, running shoes and dark colours, and warned against wearing contact lenses in case of pepper spray.

They were told not to bring “hate” and “any form of discrimination”, umbrellas, a phone with “no clean chats”, weapons, alcohol or illicit drugs.

Organisers last week held three “training” sessions about protesters legal rights and established an “arrestee support team”.

Instructions provided to anti-war protesters.

Disrupt Land Forces event schedule.

One post told protesters under arrest to “sing in the divvy van, and in the cell blocks, but whatever you do, don’t talk to the cops”.

“The watch house phone is ringing hot,” a post on Wednesday morning said.

On Thursday, they will march against Hanwha and Elbit Systems, with a vigil for Gaza to be held at Polly Woodside Park in the evening.

A zombie rave is also planned for Friday afternoon.