Anti-war groups continued their protests outside a defence exhibition in Melbourne, Australia's second-largest city, for a second consecutive day on Thursday. This followed violent confrontations between police and protesters on Wednesday that resulted in injuries to several officers.
Protesters marched through the city's streets as police erected new barricades to prevent the crowd from accessing the roads near the venue of the biennial Land Forces International Land Defence Exposition. The police have deployed riot squad officers and specialist personnel, describing this as the largest security operation in Melbourne since the World Economic Forum in 2000. Additional police officers from other parts of Victoria state have been mobilized to Melbourne.
On Wednesday, dozens of protesters were arrested as police employed sponge grenades, flash-bang devices, and irritant sprays to manage the hostile crowd. Some protesters responded by throwing rocks, horse manure, and bottles at police officers and horses. Approximately 1,500 people demonstrated outside the venue on Wednesday, with many chanting pro-Palestine slogans and waving Palestine flags, while others displayed signs and flags related to various conflicts and causes.
Victoria state police reported that 22 individuals were charged and 10 received infringement notices. Additionally, 27 police officers required medical attention. Protesters accused the police of using rubber bullets and other weapons they believe should be prohibited for use against demonstrators, including pepper spray. The violence, orchestrated by a group named 'Disrupt Land Forces,' has elicited strong condemnations from major political parties, though the minor left-wing Greens have called for an independent inquiry into the police actions.
The event, expected to host about 1,000 exhibiting organizations from 31 countries, is billed by organizers as Australia's largest defence expo. The three-day event is set to conclude on Friday.
