The YouTube sensation’s fan meeting turns violent: Police are ambushed during an ‘eshay rally’ in Logan
Young fans of a notorious rapper turned YouTube star have turned on police during a chaotic public appearance on a suburban street.
Large crowds gathered at Waterford West in the southeast Queensland city of Logan on Saturday to greet Spanian, whose real name is Anthony Lees, a former inmate who has found fame as a rapper and YouTube star.
Police were present to control the crowd, but it wasn’t long before officers called for help as things got out of hand.
Footage posted on social media captured the wild scenes on the busy street, including multiple burnouts as billowing clouds of smoke filled the air.
Flares were also set off as drivers performed risky stunts.
Hoons were also filmed surrounding and attacking a police car, repeatedly kicking at the dented vehicle.
Another video showed bottles being pelted at police vehicles.
There were wild scenes as fans of the rapper turned YouTuber-Spanish allegedly attacked police cars in Logan on Saturday
Three police vehicles were reportedly damaged in the chaos.
Queensland Police have branded the gathering a ‘large-scale hooning event’.
“Officers responded to reports of a large group of people gathering for an event on Bourke Street at around 2pm,” a police statement said.
“About 350 people visited the area, with some vehicles committing traffic-related offenses and driving dangerously.
‘Multiple crews arrived on scene, declared an event that had gotten out of hand and blocked the street.
‘Three police cars were damaged as a result of the event.’
Officers, including from specialist teams, were called from Logan, Gold Coast and South Brisbane districts to regain control.
Order was finally restored at 4 p.m.
One person was arrested and no injuries were reported.
The investigation into the incident continues.
“The potential for tragedy cannot be underestimated, they are putting their lives at risk,” said Chief Inspector Les Bulluss.
Residents of Bourke Street were furious that their neighborhood had turned into a war zone.
“It’s disgusting,” one woman said Nine news.
When one participant was questioned about the reason behind the gathering, he explained: ‘mate, it’s a party, it’s just a party, it’s family.’
It’s the same movie in which 17-year-old Jai Anderson died a year ago after allegedly being hit by a utility vehicle while riding a dirt bike.
Three police vehicles were reportedly damaged during the chaos on Saturday afternoon
Hoons allegedly kicked and threw bottles at police vehicles
Spanian, from Sydney’s inner suburb of Woolloomooloo, went inside juvenile detention at the age of 15 and became a heroin addict the following year.
He spent the next twelve years in and out of NSW prisons for drug dealing, assault and theft before reforming in 2017 and forging a successful rap career.
Dedicated to producing social media content, he has half a million followers on Instagram and 83 million views on YouTube.
In his popular YouTube series Into the Hood, he goes to the most notorious, crime-ridden areas in the world.
His fans are often characterized as eshais,
A public performance by an infamous rapper turned YouTube star drew 350 people
Spaniard (left), who grew up in central Sydney, has turned his criminal past into fame as a rapper and YouTube star