Riot squad breaks up huge rowdy party in Airbnb rental after police dragged inside

A policewoman was dragged inside an out-of-control party at an Airbnb rental in Sydney’s southeast, prompting the riot squad to intervene.

Riot squad police were forced to break up a huge, rowdy party at an Airbnb rental in Sydney’s southeast that left two police officers injured.

Police went to the unit complex on Nobbs Street in Surry Hills around 1am after receiving complaints about loud noise coming from the gathering, with more than 100 people crammed into the unit.

They soon had to call for backup after the partygoers refused to leave and a female constable was dragged inside the unit while speaking with a man at the door.

She was released when officers used pepper spray, but the occupants then retreated back inside, locking the door.

Reinforcements came from three area commands and the riot squad, creating a massive police presence, and the partygoers eventually began to leave, with police forcibly dispersing the crowd.

A worker cleans up broken glass from a smashed window at the entrance to the apartment block. Picture: Julian Andrews

A 19-year-old woman was treated by paramedics after reportedly suffering a panic attack and was taken to St Vincent’s Hospital, along with a female and male constable suffering minor injuries.

They have since been released.

Three people - two 19-year-old women and a 24-year-old man - were arrested and taken to Surry Hills Police Station.

They have been charged with offences including behaving in an offensive manner in or near a public place or school and resisting or hindering police executing their duty.

All three are due to face court in January.

A police spokesman said the incident was under investigation and fines may be issued for COVID-19 restriction breaches.

Airbnb’s head of public policy for Australia, Derek Nolan, said the company was deeply disappointed to hear about the party.

“The reported behaviour is completely unacceptable,” Mr Nolan said.

“The associated guest account is no longer on our platform and we will continue to investigate.

“Airbnb continues to enforce our policy change to ban parties at Airbnb listings globally until further notice.

“Our community standards require everyone to behave in a manner that’s respectful of neighbours and the wider community.

“Our message to everyone who uses Airbnb could not be clearer; bad behaviour has no place on Airbnb and those who wilfully fail to adhere to our policies face removal from our platform.”

Airbnb recently announced more than 400 listings across Australia had been suspended or removed from the platform as part of a crackdown on party houses.