Protesters scale Sydney Opera House in Manus protest

POLICE have been forced to scale the sails of the Opera House after protesters broke through security to climb the landmark.

PROTESTERS have scaled the sails of the iconic Sydney Opera House in a protest against conditions in Australia’s offshore detention camps.

NSW Police said five people were arrested after scaling the Opera House this morning.

Shortly before 10.30am on Thursday, officers were called to Circular Quay following reports of a protest.

The protesters were reportedly from a group called WACA — Whistleblowers, Activists and Citizens Alliance.

The protest was against Australia’s detention centre in Manus. Picture: AAP Image/Brendan Esposito.

Officers from the Police Rescue and Bomb Disposal Unit climbed up the sails of the Opera House, where they arrested two men and three women, bringing them back down to safety.

Police assisted by a helicopter and uniformed officers initially arrested one abseiler on the roof before the other activists abandoned their mission and were also arrested, reported AAP.

They were taken to Day Street Police Station in the city’s CBD.

Three protesters on the ground; two females and a male, were also issued with a move-along direction.

No one was injured during the incident.

Two of the climbers atop the Opera House this morning #EvacuateManus #BringThemHere #ManusSOS pic.twitter.com/fiAudzCU2T

— WACA (@akaWACA) November 9, 2017

Police rescue apprehend climbers on the Sydney Opera House this morning, attempting to unfurl a large banner @smh @GuardianAus #EvacuateManus #BringThemHere pic.twitter.com/6loJx0XM7Y

— WACA (@akaWACA) November 9, 2017

WACA said the climb aimed to highlight “the inhumane treatment on Manus Island of men seeking asylum”.

“The Opera House is an iconic symbol of Australian culture and we think Australia is becoming increasingly internationally recognised for its human rights abuse to refugees,” spokeswoman Lily Matchett told AAP.

The activists briefly unravelled a banner which said “bring them here” and “Australia — world leaders in cruelty”.

Australia’s Manus Island detention facility, in Papua New Guinea, officially closed on October 31. However, hundreds of men who were housed there are refusing to leave for resettlement in PNG as they say they are in danger.

The global landmark is supposed to be one of the most secure venues in Australia.

NSW Police has said they will be speaking with venue operators in relation to the matter.

Police arrested five people. Picture: AAP Image/Brendan Esposito.