Anti-lockdown protesters clash with police in Melbourne – officers use pepper spray
Wild scenes in Melbourne as anti-lockdown protesters in balaclavas and face coverings clash with police and attack a horse with metal poles in dramatic suburban stand-off
- Anti-lockdown protests have broken out in Melbourne on Friday afternoon with hundreds attending
- Police clashed with protesters and punches reportedly thrown at officers who deployed pepper spray
- Melbourne has endured months of strict lockdowns as COVID-19 case numbers brought under control
A police horse has been attacked with a pole and punches thrown at officers who have retaliated with pepper spray in wild anti-lockdown protests in Melbourne.
Major scuffles erupted as police met the front-line of protesters who had gathered at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne on Thursday afternoon.
About 200 to 300 Melburnians bearing anti-lockdown signs and chanting slogans turned out at the city’s sacred war memorial in opposition to ongoing coronavirus restrictions in the city.
The chaotic scenes are in stark contrast to what would usually be seen in the Victorian capital leading into an AFL grand final weekend.
A unmasked protestor picks up what appears to be an orange flare at the anti-lockdown protest in Melbourne on Friday
The unmasked protestor holds an orange flare at the protest as photographers take pictures
Protesters and police face off at an an anti-lockdown protest in Melbourne on Friday. Police have used pepper spray amid scuffles with demonstrators
A police horse has been attacked with a pole and punches thrown at officers who have retaliated with pepper spray in wild anti-lockdown protests in Melbourne (pictured)
Protesters who turned out in their hundreds in the Melbourne CBD on Thursday afternoon were met by police (pictured)
A woman chants in front of members of Victoria Police, who formed a wall in front of activists
A woman is detained by members of Victoria Police. Protesters are calling on the end to lockdown restrictions in Victoria following a decline in new coronavirus cases reported in the state
A pregnant woman holds an anti-lockdown sign at Friday’s protest
Plastic bottles were reportedly hurled at officers on Thursday afternoon, with an AAP photographer at the scene confirming police have used pepper spray against the protesters.
A number of people have been arrested with one man being filmed yelling at officers: ‘What are you holding me for? What is the problem with you?’
Protesters were seen holding the Australian and American and Eureka flags and bearing placards which read ‘Free Vic’ and ‘Corona hoax 1984’.
The protest got underway about 2pm and is the latest in a string of protests against Premier Daniel Andrews’ tough measures to control COVID-19 infections throughout the last few months.
Protesters face two separate fines if they attend an anti-lockdown rally in Melbourne’s CBD.
A male protestor falls on the ground amid an encounter with Victoria Police
Police officers on horseback were at the event with one police horse reportedly being attacked with a pole by a protester
A woman with a megaphone can be seen scuffling with officers as police attempt to control the crowd (pictured)
A woman wears headphones with her back to police at the lockdown protest
A woman in a ‘Donald Trump 2020’ mask is seen at the anti-lockdown protest
A woman armed with a microphone and a bluetooth speaker waves the US, UK and Australian flags as protestors gather around to listen what another speaker has to say
Just one year ago, on the Friday before the 2019 final players from the Richmond Tigers and Greater Western Sydney took part in the annual parade through the streets of Melbourne.
Fans gathered along the city’s streets as the teams meandered along Spring Street and Wellington Parade to Yarra Park where they took the stage in front of an excited crowd.
Manager of the London Tavern Hotel, Gina Cimarosti, would normally be hosting swarms of thirsty football fans at her corner pub ahead of Australia’s biggest weekend of sport but the beer taps are dry.
The hulking Melbourne Cricket Ground, the Grand Final’s traditional venue, gathers cobwebs a short walk from Cimarosti’s pub.
‘The Grand Final is usually the biggest day of our year,’ Cimarosti told Reuters in an empty room at the London Tavern.
‘It’s hard not to lose a bit of faith … But we’re just trying to look forward.’
Melbourne has endured months of strict Stage Four lockdowns to battles coronavirus with restrictions expected to be slightly eased on Sunday
Tigers superstar Dustin Martin rides with the daughter of Richmond captain Trent Cotchin in the 2019 AFL Grand Final parade
Thousands of fans flooded into Melbourne’s CBD on Friday for the annual Grand Final parade in 2019 in stark contrast to this year’s lead-up to the game on Saturday
Unmasked protestors and masked police clash at the anti-lockdown protest
Police arrest a speaker during the anti-lockdown protest in Melbourne
A man shouts and waves his hand at police officers as a fellow protestor holds him back
A young girl feeds a police horse an apple amid the chaos of the protest as her mother take a photo
Police guide the mother and daughter away from the protest
Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Luke Cornelius has warned that protesters could also fall foul of legislation governing behaviour at the Shrine.
Mr Cornelius said the RSL and the Shrine have made it clear that any protest on the site is disrespectful to the memory of people who have served their country.
He said the Shrine legislation covered behaviour and how people are dressed, adding that anyone who refuses to obey police could be fined around $300.
Plastic bottles were reportedly hurled at officers, with an AAP photographer at the scene confirming police have used pepper spray against the protesters
A man wearing a ‘Free Victoria’ face mask stares down a wall of police officers
Many scuffles between police and anti-lockdown protestors broke out. Here an officer and a man in a black balaclava have a physical confrontation
Protesters and members of Victoria Police clash on October 23, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. Protesters are calling on the end to lockdown restrictions in Victoria following a decline in new coronavirus cases reported in the state
Another woman wearing service badges is detained by Victoria Police
While lockdown rules have been eased this week, Melburnians can still travel no more than 25km from their homes and are not permitted to have visitors to their home unless for caregiving reasons.
They also can be fined if they gather in groups of more than 10 from more than two households, and must wear masks as well as social distance.
There were scuffles and several arrests last month as police broke up a protest at the Shrine.
A website for the Friday protest tells participants: ‘Daniel Andrews must resign and lockdowns must end. Restore our freedoms now.’
The protests turned violent with reports of punches being traded between protesters and police officers on Thursday (pictured)
About 200 to 300 Melburnians bearing ant-lockdown signs and chanting slogans turned out at the city’s sacred war memorial in opposition to ongoing coronavirus restrictions in the city
Protesters are seen linking arms as they march through Melbourne’s CBD, a placard reading ‘Corona Hoax 1984’ can be seen in the crowd (pictured)
Police met protesters out in force on Thursday afternoon in Melbourne’s CBD (pictured) with pepper spray being deployed
Protestors confront a line of mounted police and their horse
A dog is seen among protestors marching from Melbourne’s war memorial
