Clashes at Bendigo mosque rally as police try to keep protesters apart

POLICE largely kept opposing groups of demonstrators apart, but scuffles still occurred as anti-Islam protesters faced off with supporters of multiculturalism.

Anti Mosque Protest

POLICE have largely kept apart opposing protesters in Bendigo this afternoon but isolated clashes did occur.

Earlier today, one man was removed from a rally by police in the regional Victorian city where demonstrations both in favour of and opposing a new mosque are being held.

The man was identified by the crowd as being part of an anti-Muslim protest planned for Bendigo on Saturday.

He attempted to walk through rally goers outside Bendigo town hall with a camera and scuffles broke out after someone grabbed and ran off with it. Police dragged the man over a barrier and restored calm.

Some members of the anti-racism group clashed with a group of unidentified young men outside a hotel, during a march to the park, reported the Herald Sun.

Estimates put the number of people in each rally at roughly 300 with 400 police between them.

A man is taken into custody in Bendigo. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

The far-right United Patriots Front, which is against the mosque plans, gathered in the city’s Rosalind Park.

Organiser Blair Cottrell said it would be the group’s “biggest demonstration ever”.

Anti-racism demonstrators, who were concentrated outside the town hall, also held an anti-bigotry rally in the city centre.

The No Room For Racism organiser, Yarra councillor Stephen Jolly, said Bendigo residents had enough of racists targeting their city.

“Bendigo is under siege from the racists and is being unfairly targeted for this national protest,” he said.

Earlier, police had warned that “hardcore” protesters travelling interstate to Bendigo to protest could cause clashes between anti-Islamic and anti-racism demonstrators.

The last major protest against the mosque in Bendigo, on August 29, ended in violent clashes between protesters from the far right and left.

Premier Daniel Andrews says many opponents to the mosque are travelling from interstate to stir up hate and bigotry.

“You’ve got people who wouldn’t know how to spell Bendigo coming to Bendigo, trashing Bendigo’s good name,” Mr Andrews said.

“They’re outsiders in every sense of that word.” More than 400 police officers will be on duty across the city on Saturday, stretching the region’s emergency services even thinner as firefighters battle an out-of-control bushfire at Lancefield, south of Bendigo.

Campaigners in favour of the building of a new mosque in Bendigo faced up to campaigners opposed to the new building today. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Victoria Police assistant commissioner Stephen Leane told reporters in Melbourne on Friday: “There are people on the far left and the far right who will come tomorrow — I have no doubt — with no intention but to commit violent acts against each other.” Mr Leane has asked moderates to weigh up whether they want to be involved with the 300 to 400 “hardcore” protesters expected to turn up on Saturday.

Multicultural organisations in Victoria have condemned the anti-mosque rally.

“Australian society is built on pluralism and we have come too far to allow a handful of bigots to destabilise Victoria’s social harmony,” said Islamic Council of Victoria secretary Kuranda Seyit. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has also warned against attending race rallies.

If people are vilifying another group, “how can that possibly be anything other than contrary to our national interest”, Mr Turnbull told reporters in Sydney on Friday.

Bendigo Mayor Peter Cox said it was disappointing there was another “anti-Islam rally”.

“While we are not used to this and it’s upsetting to see Bendigo portrayed in a negative light, events such as this do not define the city,” he said.