Investigators launch fresh hunt for Land Forces protesters, release eight new images
A taskforce investigating last month’s wild Land Forces protest has released eight new images of people they are seeking allegedly involved in the violent demonstration. See their faces.
Police & Courts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Police & Courts. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A taskforce investigating last month’s wild Land Forces protest have released eight fresh images of people they are seeking.
Members of the Bastion Taskforce are looking for them after having arrested and charged four of the initial nine people whose images were recently released publicly.
They were on top of 89 charged or fined on the day of demonstrations against the Land Forces military equipment expo, run on September 11 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Police and guests of the event were allegedly assaulted at the height of the chaos.
The four charged so far by Bastion all face animal abuse charges over their treatment of police horses.
A Carlton North man, 28, faces six counts of assaulting police and animal abuse.
It is alleged he splashed a “liquid irritant” over four officers, before attacking a police horse and its rider with the same substance and flinging horse manure at the mounted branch.
Bastion members have charged a 62-year-old Yarraville man with affray, assault of police, intentionally obstructing police, discharging a missile and torment/abuse of an animal.
A Mount Waverley man, 22, is on two counts each of animal abuse, obstructing police and theft.
A 55-year-old Lower Templestowe man was hit with four charges of obstructing police and two of animal abuse.
All were bailed to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 21 November.
A total of 27 police from Victoria and interstate needed medical treatment after working the protest and 12 horses exposed to a range of substances were assessed by vets before being cleared for a return to work.
“It’s alleged there were rocks, projectiles, liquid which smelt strongly of vomit, horse manure, eggs and liquid irritants hurled at police officers, horses and expo attendees,” a Victoria Police statement said.
“Several police horses and riders were allegedly splashed with a liquid irritant including being sprayed under face protectors, going into their mouths and nostrils, and were repeatedly pushed and hit with plastic crates.”
Police said the eight images released on Monday are of people they hope can assist their inquiry into allegations of assault and animal cruelty.
Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a confidential report online at crimestoppersvic.com.au
Police probe gangland link as man catches fire in latest arson attack
Police are investigating whether an arson attack on a Lygon St bike shop — which left a man fleeing the scene in flames — is the latest in Melbourne’s long line of underworld firebombing attacks.
‘We adored her’: tributes for Melb model killed in crash at rave
The 24-year-old woman killed when she was struck by a car at a gathering in Kooyong on Sunday has been identified as “bubbly, bright” Clifton Hill model Elise Hodder, with tributes flowing.