Clashes Erupt at Anti-War Protest in Melbourne

Anti-war protesters and police clashed outside a defense exhibition in Australia's second-largest city of Melbourne, with police using sponge grenades, flash-bang devices and irritant sprays to control parts of the hostile crowd.

Victoria’s police chief has accused “hypocritical” protesters of throwing acid, rocks and manure at officers, and targeting horses during a violent and chaotic anti-war demonstration in Melbourne that culminated in 39 arrests.

Thousands of protesters who gathered outside the Land Forces international exposition at the Convention and Exhibition Centre were met with the biggest Victorian police operation in more than 20 years.

Police say at least 24 officers from Victoria and interstate needed medical treatment after mounted officers and the riot squad were shoved, pelted with projectiles, liquid containing acid, beer bottles, and even horse manure as protesters chanting pro-Palestine slogans and “This is not a police state” breached lines in violent tussles.

Activists attempted to block multiple entrances to the building, lit rubbish bins on fire, and threw eggs and yelled “war pigs” at the event’s attendees.

In response, police deployed pepper spray, used rubber bullets and flash distraction devices.

Police were pelted with rocks, horse manure and bottles filled with liquid as they tried to protect attendees of the expo, some of whom were assaulted by protesters, a Victoria state police spokesperson said in a statement.

So far, 39 people have been arrested for assaulting and obstructing officers, arson attacks, and blocking roadways.

Hundreds of regional police officers had traveled to Melbourne for the event, which Victoria Police had flagged would be their most significant operation in two decades at a cost of more than $10 million.

About 1,200 people attended the protest outside the venue hosting the biennial Land Forces International Land Defence Exposition, authorities said.