Source : Perth Now news
Nine people have been hit with charges after scuffles broke out between protesters and police at a pro-Palestine rally on Monday.
NSW Police said five people were taken to hospital after the ugly scenes in Sydney, and two police officers were treated at the scene.
The ages of those charges range from 19 to 67, and all have been charged with assault or public order offences.
A 28-year-old man was charged with assaulting police officer in execution of duty causing actual bodily harm and was refused bail to appear in court on Tuesday.
A 19-year-old man, accused of two counts of assaulting police officer during public disorder causing actual bodily harm, will appear before court later this month, while a 31-year-old woman accused of assault occasioning actual bodily harm was granted bail to appear in court in March.
Others who will appear before court in March are a 67-year-old man accused of behaving in offensive manner in/near public place/school, a 24-year-old man charged with hindering or resisting police officer in the execution of duty, a 23-year-old man charged with assauling police officer in execution of duty without actual bodily harm, a 25-year-old woman facing the same charge, and a 25-year-old man accused of refusing/failing to comply with direction and hindering/resisting law enforcement officer in execution of duty.
A 21-year-old man charged with throw missile at police officer executing duty no actual bodily harm is due in court in August.
Six others will be issued Future Court Attendance Notices for refusing/failing to comply with direction under Part 14 to appear before court on a later date.
‘Significant police presence’
Protesters have been warned there will be “no difference” in the police response to any gathering held on Tuesday night, after violent scenes erupted on the streets of Sydney on Monday.
An anti-Israel rally of thousands turned into clashes with police on Monday night as sections of the crowd attempted to march on from Town Hall, in defiance of a court ruling.
NSW Premier said 7000 people attended the rally, but organisers said the attendance was 20,000.
Police said 27 people were arrested, including 10 for assaulting police officers after the Town Hall rally.
Other protesters were handcuffed for failing to comply with officers’ directions.
Addressing media on Tuesday, NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said he was aware of a second protest that had been organised to take place outside Surry Hills Police Station, and noted there was no restriction on protest in the area.
“We’ll have a significant police presence. There’s no difference to the approach to police,” he said.
“When protesters go, act lawfully, act peacefully, there will be no problem. It’s outside the area of declaration. It will be the actions of protesters that what happens. We want it to remain calm and peaceful … for the streets of Sydney to be calm and peaceful.”
An ad for the rally, organised by the Palestine Action Group, urged supporters to “protest against police brutality!”
“Genocide is a crime, protest is not!” the post reads.
“Arrest Herzog, not protesters! Drop all charges against protesters! Minns and Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon must resign! Independent investigation of police violence!”
Joshua Lees, of the Palestine Action Group, accused Chris Minns of “seemingly trying to bring a bit Donald Trump’s America to Sydney”.
He told a press conference: “We have called another rally tonight at the Surry Hills Police Station, to make the point, there needs to be investigation into the (alleged) police brutality, that all charges against protesters need to be dropped and we need to repeal this raft of anti-protest laws.”
More to come
