Melbourne protests turn violent, leaving two police officers hospitalised as CCTV reviewed

Police will use an abundance of CCTV and body-worn camera footage to identify those responsible for violent protests that put two officers in the hospital.

One woman is expected to be charged over the ugly clashes as police tried to separate the anti-immigration rally from a counter anti-racism protest in Melbourne’s CBD on Sunday.

Victoria Police officers used flash bangs, pepper spray and rubber bullets to try to control crowds after a protest against what organisers call mass migration brought strong numbers to Melbourne’s CBD.

Superintendent Wayne Cheeseman said people from the counter protest, dubbed “United Against Racism: Migrants and Refugees Are Welcome”, were “desperately” trying to reach the other demonstration and confront those assembled.

Supt Cheesman said police were pelted with large rocks, glass bottles and spoiled fruit as protesters tried to break through police barricades.

One female sergeant was suspected of having suffered a broken hand after being kicked by protesters, and a male senior constable sustained a gash to his leg.

“I think Melbourne has had a gutful,” Supt Cheeseman said.

“The fact is rocks being thrown at police, bottles filled with shards of glass were being thrown at police. Bins were put on fire, flags were on fire and I think enough is enough.”

He made no apologies for the police having to use force to separate and disperse crowds during an extremely volatile and violent environment.

“Police do not attend protests with the aim of using force, but it is always in response to the actions of protesters whether it be violence between different groups, or towards officers,” Supt Cheesman said.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said some protesters were attending the rallies for the sake of protesting and when they acted with violence, like hurling rocks at police, “they deserve to face serious consequences”.

She said new safety laws being introduced into parliament in November should help clamp down on such behaviours.

Anti-racist protesters condemned tactics used by police to control protesters.

“We condemn the violent acts of Victoria Police,” rally organiser Yasmin said in a statement.

“We are appalled by the comments of police commander Wayne Cheeseman who praised the far-right hate march,” she said.

“It is not peaceful to organise a rally calling for Black and brown people to not be allowed in this country.

“Police denied thousands the right to protest, while facilitating the racist, hateful demonstration March for Australia, exercising white sovereignty to defend a white Australia ideology.”

They said five protesters were hospitalised following their march, but police said they were unaware of any hospitalisations.

Victoria police union secretary Wayne Gatt likened scenes on Sunday to Northern Ireland in the 1970s.

“What we saw, it’s just filthy and it’s disgusting,” Mr Gatt told Sunrise on Monday.

“The only people yesterday who didn’t have their human rights protected was the police ... no one in Australia takes these people seriously, they are living in absolute fantasy land.”

Similar protests were held across the nation, but no others had the violence experienced in Melbourne.