A senior member of Victoria Police has unleashed on “issue-motivated groups on the left” in the aftermath of violent and chaotic clashes in Melbourne’s CBD, where “anti-racism” demonstrators clashed with March for Australia protesters on Sunday.
Hundreds of anti-mass migration protesters gathered on the steps of Parliament House in Melbourne just before midday before marching through the surrounding streets.
March for Australia demonstrations also took place in most capital cities on Sunday – including Sydney, where at least 5,000 protesters marched through the CBD.
In response, counter demonstrators staged their own rallies, with activist group Campaign Against Racism and Fascism congregating at the State Library in Melbourne at 11am after marching from Camp Sovereignty.
A large police presence was observed with a barricade erected on Bourke Street to keep the two groups separated.
However, the situation in Melbourne soon descended into chaos, with Victoria Police confirming a female sergeant suffered a broken hand after being kicked, while a male senior constable sustained a deep gash to his leg.
Speaking at a press conference later on Sunday, Victoria Police North West Metro region Commander Wayne Cheesman unleashed on those he said were responsible for the violence.
Commander Cheesman dramatically produced a box full of stones, broken glass bottles and other missiles he said had been hurled at officers as they attempted to prevent counter protestors reaching the March for Australia demonstration.
Holding up one large rock, the senior member of Victoria Police said some objects had been thrown with enough force to crack specially reinforced riot shields.
“This is what was thrown at police today and I think Melbourne has had a gutful,” he said while dumping the box of missiles onto the floor.
“The left-wing group were running up and down side streets. We were lucky we had barriers and police in place, but they were desperately trying to get to the March for Australia group, who was for a long time static at Parliament House.
“Bottles filled with shards of glass were being thrown at police. Rotten fruit, bins and flags were set on fire. People came to pick a fight with police.”
Commander Cheesman said the people that came to pick the fight with police “were the issue-motivated groups on the left” and branded them as “cowards”.
He said a group of 50 demonstrators were responsible for the vast majority of the violence and reiterated it would be hard to track them all down.
“The March for Australia group – they were peaceful, engaging and followed instructions. The others came with masks, hoodies and umbrellas, throwing rocks and hiding behind barriers. They came to harm our members, and it’s got to stop.”
Commander Cheesman described the violent clashes as a “volatile and violent environment” and said that valuable police resources had been re-directed during a “crime crisis”.
“Today was a bad day for Victoria Police. I think it was a bad day for Melbourne, and we’re trying to portray a city that we want people to come and visit. We have enough problem with the crime crisis, and I’ll call it a crisis because we don’t have enough police,” he said.
“Bins were on fire, flags were on fire… enough is enough.”
Images captured counter-demonstrators burning the Australian flag and waving signs that read “no neo-Nazis” and “stop fascism”.
A large contingent of police motorbikes and riot squad officers patrolled the rally with some officers demanding protesters remove their face coverings, which are set to banned under new laws put forward by the Allan government.
The 800 strong group then began moving down Swanson Street at about 11:45am, before turning left onto Collins Street to meet the anti-mass migration demonstrators.
Mounted officers formed a wall to prevent protestors from heading up Collins Street.
Protestors then attempted to outmanoeuvre police and travel down Flinders Lane to reach Parliament House, but officers made another wall to gate in the rally and prevent the counter-protestors from progressing forward.
The wall of officers stood side by side, preventing access to Flinders Street on the corner of Exhibition Street, which prompted violent scenes between demonstrators and police as rally-goers shouted: “Nazi scum off our streets”.
The March for Australia rally all but stopped their speeches to shout back at the looming counter-rally, who yelled: “No Nazis ever again”.
Authorities were forced to use pepper spray to break up the agitated crowd, as officers pinned down numerous protestors who violently sparred with police.
Flash bangs were heard ringing out as riot squad police pushed back pro-immigration demonstrators who attempted to breach the line.
Paramedics treated several protestors who were injured in the confrontation.
The group were seen loudly yelling “shame” at two men draped in Australian flags as they passed the crowd.
At least one person was arrested at about midday after scuffles broke out between police and counter-protestors on Exhibition Street, with authorities saying they would review footage to identify others.
The so-called anti-racism demonstrators threw eggs and glass peanut butter containers filled with water at police, with one police officer seen falling down.
The counter protesters ceased their march at Flinders Street station at about 12:30pm as the March for Australia attendees walked further away along Spring Street at about 1pm.
A smaller group of anti-mass migration demonstrators also clashed with police, with officers using tear gas, stun grenades and rubber bullets near Spring Street to repel the aggressive crowd.
The group then travelled down Russell Street waving Australian and Confederate flags.