Melbourne protest LIVE updates: Anti-war demonstrators clash with police and reporters in fiery scenes
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By Max Aitchison and Wayne Flower, Melbourne Correspondent
Published: | Updated:
The biggest protest in ‘two decades’ has rocked Melbourne as up to 25,000 anti-war protestors demonstrate against a Land Forces expo held outside the Melbourne Convention Centre, bringing the city to a standstill.
Almost 2,000 Victoria Police officers were attempting to corral the protesters, as some turned violent by hurling horse poo and other objects at mounted officers.
Leaders from across the political spectrum have condemned the violence.
Follow Daily Mail Australia’s live coverage.
A TV journalist was mobbed and jostled by furious protesters while trying to film a live news segment.
Sunrise reporter Teegan Dolling was doing a live cross when she was swarmed by at least four protesters, some wearing keffiyehs and masks, who thrust their middle fingers towards the camera.
One of the female protesters then tried to block the camera and was then involved in an altercation with Ms Dolling who tried to pull her hand away.
‘Don’t block the camera,’ Ms Dollign could be heard saying.
Surnise host Nat Barr condemned the scenes.
‘That is not on if people are actually mishandling out reporters,’ she said from the studio.
At least one protester was arrested outside Melbourne’s convention centre.
Journalists hit with rubber bullets and capsicum spray as protests descend into violence
A Daily Mail Australia reporter has been blasted by rubber bullets as he covered the febrile protest on the ground.
He was caught in the cross-fire as officers opened fire on a group of protesters advancing towards them.
Albo defends right to protest but slams those hurling things at police
Anthony Albanese has weighed in on the protests bringing Australia’s second-largest city to a halt by criticisng those who have thrown things at police.
The Prime Minister said ‘people have a right to protest peacefully’.
‘But you don’t say you’re opposed to defence equipment by throwing things at police,’ he told Sunrise.
‘They’ve got a job to do, and our police officers should be respected at all times.’
Protesters attack police horses and hurl faeces at mounted officers
Several protesters were seen grappling with the reins of police horses to allow other demonstrators to break through.
One man, with a long mullet and wearing sunglasses, could be seen repeatedly grabbing at a bridle before he tried to snatch a horse whip out of a mounted officer’s hands.
Another disturbing video shows demonstrators throwing what appeared to be horse faeces at a group of mounted police.
Officers were seen with faeces stuck to their helmets and uniforms as they attempted to control the crowd, with some officers using capsicum spray.
Sussan Ley slams demonstrators: ‘These people need to get a job’
Deputy Opposition leader Sussan Ley has blasted protesters, claimng they ‘need to get a job’.
Ms Ley (pictured, below) praised the efforts of police who were working to control the demonstrators.
‘My thoughts are for law enforcement when confronted with these large numbers, and our police and the people who keep us safe are diverted from all of the things they need to be doing to address this sort of nonsense,’ she said.
‘It’s like we have the same crowd every single time we have one of these protests. I stand with our defence industries every single day of the week, and I know that Australians absolutely do so as well.’
Almost 2,000 police struggle to contain protesters swarming busiest intersection in city
Over 1,800 police, including mounted officers, are struggling to contain thousands of anti-war protesters blocking Melbourne’s busiest intersection.
Detectives had to be drafted in to bolster police numbers as demosntrators turned violent outside the Land Forces Defence Expo.
James Conlon, a former Melbourne councillor, claimed that ‘thousands of protesters just broke the pathetic police line of horses’.
‘We’re now blocking the intersection with the West Gate Bridge, the busiest intersection in Melbourne,’ he posted on X.
Anti-war protesters fling horse faeces at mounted police – as demonstrators are told to get a job
A group of protesters were filmed throwing horse poo at police officers as they tried to control a record-breaking crowd.
Victoria Police officers expected some 25,000 people to attend an anti-war march in Melbourne ahead of the Land Forces Defence Expo this week.
Deputy Opposition leader Sussan Ley slammed the planned action, saying those involved ‘need to get a job’.
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Melbourne protest LIVE updates: Anti-war demonstrators clash with police and reporters in fiery scenes
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