home
article
Protesters and Police Clash at Melbourne Defense Expo

Protesters and Police Clash at Melbourne Defense Expo

ai generated text

A rally at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on Wednesday drew approximately 1,200 attendees, according to police estimates. The event turned violent as rubbish bins were set on fire, and police responded with pepper spray and dramatic arrests. The clash between anti-war protesters and police occurred outside the Land Forces International Land Defense Exposition, a defense exhibition that brought together defense experts from around the world. The event was the largest police operation in Melbourne since 2000, with police struggling to control the crowd of 1,200 people who attempted to block attendees from entering the exposition. The exhibition showcased military equipment, including heavy-duty trucks, semi-automatic guns, and other weapons.

Jacinta Allan
1. If the member for Richmond can't turn up and do her job, as an elected member of parliament, she should hand back the keys to her office.
2. I say to anyone going down to threaten police, to threaten community safety [they] will absolutely be dealt with by Victoria police.
Victoria Police
1. Some police have been spat at by protesters, whilst other officers have been sprayed with a liquid irritant, some of which has been identified as acid.
2. This morning, those police have been pelted with missiles including bottles filled with liquid, rocks, and horse manure whilst trying to protect the attendees of the Land Forces expo, some of whom were also assaulted by protesters.
3. We have seen many delegates coming through and we want to make it uncomfortable for these (people) to go inside and make million-dollar contracts and buy more weapons or sell weapons that are going to be used to commit genocide in Palestine and other places in the world.
Anthony Albanese
Australian Government
1. You don't say you're opposed to defense equipment by throwing things at police. They've got a job to do and our police officers should be respected at all times.
Shane Patton
Victoria Police
1. I couldn't be prouder of the officers down there and … the way they used restraint when confronted by people intent on provoking violence and using violence.
Gabrielle De Vietri
Victorian Greens
1. We pleaded for them to cancel Land Forces, but they didn't listen. Disruption is all we have left.
2. MPs attend events during sitting weeks all the time. This is no different.
3. I stepped out during the Lord's Prayer and a couple of introductions. I missed no divisions, no votes, no opportunities to speak.
Jasmine Duff
Disrupt Land Forces
1. We're protesting to stand up for all those who have been killed by the type of weapons on display at the convention.
2. Many of the weapons inside the convention centre are advertised as battle-tested. In the context of Israeli weapons firms, which are present, this means tested through killing civilians in Gaza.
Anthony Kelly
Melbourne Activist Legal Support
1. The medic team reported to us that they treated somewhere between 50 to 100 people.
2. We saw police escalate very rapidly towards a really high level and very inappropriate riot-type responses towards what was essentially lawful assemblies, peaceful assemblies.
3. Police escalated to the point where they were using force including OC spray, and horses indiscriminately.

Protesters and Police Clash at Melbourne Defense Expo

sources

perspectives

countries

organizations

persons

technicals