A new video obtained by ABC NEWS Verify shows the full minute leading up to a man in a white business shirt being punched several times by NSW Police at Monday night’s protest against Israeli President Isaac Herzog.
A shorter clip shared by Greens senator David Shoebridge went viral on Monday, showing the man being hit several times by uniformed officers, however the start of the confrontation and important context were missing.
Do you know more? Contact ABC NEWS Verify.
The new footage shared with ABC NEWS Verify by a protester named James, shows the man standing in a large group of protesters on the east side of George Street, across the road from Town Hall.
The crowd and nearby police are watching police scuffle with another protester.
At 1:07 in the video, words appear to be exchanged between the bike squad police officer and the white-shirted man after the officer appears to grab at someone next to him.Â
What happens next is slightly unclear.
The bike squad officer then pushes the man in the white shirt, who then appears to use his hand to grab at the bicycle.
The white-shirted man then puts his hands up.
The bike squad officer then grabs his shirt and appears to trip over his bike.Â
The man in the white shirt appears to place his hand on the officer’s shoulder, before two other police officers start punching the white-shirted man.
James, who was standing nearby and filmed the confrontation has told ABC NEWS Verify it was confronting to watch what then unfolded.
Police actions at Sydney’s protest analysed
“I witnessed him get pushed. He was sort of drawn into an officer who then tripped over his bike and then police just laid into him. It was really alarming,” he said.
Yesterday the NSW premier and senior police fought back against claims officers engaged in disproportionate force after several violent clashes between police and protesters at the protest.
Twenty-seven people were arrested, including 10 for assaulting police.
Nine protesters have since been charged.
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