Police close in on most-wanted lockdown protesters

A man has been charged over an alleged assault on an emergency worker at a violent anti-lockdown protest in Melbourne, as police close in on other wanted thugs.

Police continue to hunt for six thugs and hoons who are wanted over a series of confrontations with officers at Melbourne’s anti-lockdown rally last Saturday.

Detectives have closed in on two men involved in the violent protest following a public appeal launched on Thursday.

It is expected one of the men will be charged over an alleged act of violence towards a police officer and one will be charged for letting off dangerous flares.

Another man is facing a mandatory six month jail sentence after police allege he assaulted an emergency worker on duty during the rally.

Melbourne Crime Investigation Unit detectives executed a search warrant at an address in Mulgrave on Friday morning as part of the ongoing investigation.

The 44-year-old Mulgrave man has been charged with affray, assaulting an emergency worker on duty and breaching the Chief Health Officer directions.

He was bailed to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on February 10 next year.

Assaulting an emergency services worker attracts a mandatory six month prison sentence.

There were violent clashes outside Flinders Street Station.

Police wish to speak to this man over the assault of a police officer at the anti-lockdown rally.

The protest attracted thousands of people to Melbourne’s CBD last Saturday, August 22.

Footage released to the Herald Sun shows some of the men brandishing weapons and charging at police.

Nine officers needed hospital treatment after the riotous protest described by Chief Commissioner Shane Patton as one of the most violent the state had seen in 20 years.

One officer was pushed against a wall and repeatedly punched and another had their neck slashed amid the chaos.

Several other officers suffered concussion, and one was on Wednesday night still being assessed for surgery for a serious leg injury.

Police arrested 218 protesters and handed out 236 fines totalling almost $1.2 million the day of the rally.

They are now calling on the public to help identify men wanted over the most shocking acts of violence.

This man was captured on video.

Police are hoping to talk to this man.

One officer was pushed against a wall and repeatedly punched and another was slashed on the neck amid the chaos.

Several other officers were concussed and one was on Wednesday night still being assessed for surgery for a serious leg injury.

Police arrested 218 protesters and handed out 236 fines on the day of the rally.

They are calling on the public to help identify eight men.

Footage taken from police body worn cameras shows one man charging at officers as OC spray is discharged.

The man has a distinctive tattoo on his right forearm and was seen wearing black sunglasses and a blue T-shirt.

Many protesters held flags and banners.

This man was protesting in the city.

Another man in a black hoodie and mask was captured raising a baton above his head in a show of aggression directed at a wall of police outside Flinders St ­station.

A third man in a black NY Yankees cap was filmed squaring up to police with clenched fists prior to an ugly confrontation.

One of the men was captured making a lewd gesture with his hand directed to police and another was seen holding a flare with a fist raised in the air.

Beer bottles and marbles were among the weapons pelted at police and their horses during the protest where more than 4000 people swarmed the CBD.

The eight men identified in the footage are wanted by detectives from Melbourne Crime Investigation Unit.

A man in a NY Yankees cap was filmed squaring up to police with clenched fists.

Police are hoping to track down this man based on his distinctive tattoo.

The detectives are also investigating several instances of criminal damage, including police cars being smashed and defaced.

The rear window of a Public Order Response vehicle was smashed and the vehicle was plastered with far-right propaganda, including a National Socialist Network stic­ker which read: “White revo­lution is the only solution”.

The anti-lockdown rally was a significant escalation in violence from other protests in Melbourne since the start of the pandemic.

For the first time since lockdowns began, police were forced to fire pepper ball rounds at protesters to keep them at bay.

It was also the first time police declared that the vast majority “came with violence in mind”.

Anyone with information about the men is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestoppersvic.com.au.