Victoria Police continue hunting for protesters who took part in the ‘deplorable’ Disrupt Land Forces demonstrations
Police allege that horse manure, rocks, eggs, liquid irritants and ‘liquid which smelt strongly of vomit’ was hurled during the Disrupt Land Forces demonstration in September.
Police are continuing their investigations into the violent Disrupt Land Forces protests that broke out on the streets of Melbourne in September and have released images of 13 people they wish to identify.
Police allege horse manure, rocks and other projectiles, eggs, liquid irritants and “liquid which smelt strongly of vomit” was hurled at officers, horses and attendees at the Land Forces International Land Defence Exposition during the protests.
Police have so far arrested 110 people – 89 during the protests on September 11-13, and 21 in the following weeks.
Now a fresh appeal has been made to identify 13 other people that police believe can assist with inquiries into incidents such as paint being thrown at police, the discharge of missiles and affray on Seafarers Bridge which targeted exhibition attendees.
“Protesters also deliberately obstructed police horses, one putting e-scooters and bikes in their path, while another threw coffee over a member of the public,” police said in a statement.
The latest arrests occurred last week, with a 24-year-old Surrey Hills man charged with obstructing and assaulting police and a 30-year-old Fawkner woman also charged.
Police say that several of their horses and officers were splashed with liquid irritants with much of it getting under face protectors, meaning the liquid went into their mouths and nostrils, and they were “repeatedly pushed and hit with plastic crates”.
The Land Forces International Land Defence Exposition, the event the anti-war protesters were rallying against, is a biennial event that serves as the gateway to the land defence markets of Australia and provides a means to connect with major contractors from the US and Europe.
Members of Disrupt Land Forces, Socialist Alternative, Students for Palestine, Victorian Socialists and Extinction Rebellion were among those who took to the streets and co-ordinated details for the demonstration on social media.
Police Acting Assistant Commissioner Mark Galliott of the North West Metro Region said the behaviour during the protests was “nothing short of deplorable”.
“While people have a right to protest peacefully, they do not have a right to unleash violence,” he said.
“Victoria Police is committed to identifying alleged offenders and presenting them to the courts.”
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