An anti-war protester has been arrested after attaching herself to a car and blocking traffic on Melbourne’s West Gate Freeway for hours, ahead of an international military exhibition in the city next week.
Police said a 27-year-old Kensington woman who had “affixed” herself to a car decorated to look like a reptile had been separated from the vehicle and was arrested about 3.50pm on Saturday.
Police officers speak to women disrupting traffic on the West Gate Freeway on Saturday.Credit: Matt Hrkac
Earlier, police said they had been called to the Montague Street off-ramp, in South Melbourne, following reports a vehicle was dumped about 1.50pm and was blocking traffic.
“Another woman, aged in her 20s, was arrested at the scene in relation to aiding and abetting the woman protesting,” police said in a statement. “She is currently in custody and will be interviewed in relation to the incident.”
Images supplied to The Age show another protester holding large pink and green signs with the words “disrupt the weapons”.
The protest comes ahead of the Land Forces International Land Defence Exposition, which runs from September 11 to 13 at the Melbourne Convention Centre.
Police were called to reports of a car decorated to look like a reptile blocking traffic.Credit: Nine News
This week, police confirmed they would have a “significant presence” at the event – their largest operation since the World Economic Forum in 2000.
A police spokesperson said police had been granted special powers under the Terrorism Act ahead of the event, allowing officers to request identification and search vehicles in designated areas.
“To be clear, there is no intelligence to suggest the event is the target of any specific threat. However, the National Terrorism Threat Level is ‘probable’,” the statement said.
The police presence at the Melbourne Convention Centre on Saturday ahead of the Land Forces expo next week.Credit: Simon Schluter
“These powers were sought as a precautionary measure.”
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