The largest protest in ‘two decades’ has shocked Melbourne as anti-war protesters protest a Land Forces expo being held outside the Melbourne Convention Centre.
Follow the live broadcasts from Daily Mail Australia.
Protesters attack police horses and throw feces at mounted officers
Several protesters were seen wrestling with the reins of police horses to prevent other protesters from passing.
A man wearing a long mullet and sunglasses was seen repeatedly grabbing a rein before attempting to snatch a horse whip from the hands of a mounted officer.
Another disturbing video shows protesters throwing things that appear to be horse manure at a group of mounted police officers.
Officers were seen with feces on their helmets and uniforms as they tried to control the crowd, with some even using capsicum spray.
Albo defends the right to protest, but criticizes those who throw things at the police
Anthony Albanese has spoken out against the protests that have brought Australia’s second-largest city to a standstill, criticising those who threw things at police.
The prime minister said “people have the right to protest peacefully.”
“But you don’t say you’re against defence equipment by throwing things at the police,” he told Sunrise.
“They have a job to do and our police officers deserve respect at all times.”
Sussan Ley attacks protesters: ‘These people need to get a job’
Sussan Ley, deputy opposition leader, strongly criticised the protesters, telling them to “find jobs”.
Mrs Ley (pictured below) praised the efforts of the police who tried to keep the protesters under control.
“I think about law enforcement when they’re faced with these numbers. Our police and the people who keep us safe are distracted from the things they should be doing to deal with this kind of nonsense,” she said.
“It’s like every time we have one of these protests we have the same crowd. I stand behind our defence industries every day of the week and I know Australians absolutely do too.”
More than 1,800 police officers, including mounted officers, are struggling to contain thousands of anti-war protesters blocking Melbourne’s busiest intersection.
Detectives had to be deployed to increase police numbers when protesters outside the Land Forces Defence Expo turned violent.
Former Melbourne City Councillor James Conlon claimed that ‘thousands of protesters had just broken through the pitiful horse-drawn police line’.
“We are now blocking the intersection with the West Gate Bridge, the busiest intersection in Melbourne,” he posted on X.
Anti-war protesters throw horse manure at mounted police – as demonstrators are told to get jobs
A group of protesters were filmed throwing horse manure at police officers in an attempt to control the record crowd.
Victoria Police officers expected up to 25,000 people to attend an anti-war demonstration in Melbourne this week ahead of the Land Forces Defence Expo.
Sussan Ley, deputy opposition leader, strongly criticised the planned action, saying those involved should “find jobs”.
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