Police put on a display of force as they arrest 74 ‘aggressive and violent’ protesters in Melbourne

A violent clash between anti-lockdown demonstrators and police has culminated in more than 70 arrests as hundreds stormed Melbourne’s CBD chanting ‘freedom’ in protest of Dan Andrews’ lockdown measures.  

Up to 250 residents amassed at Queen Victoria Market on Sunday for a second day of riots as tensions escalate over the city’s tough stage four restrictions, which prohibit Melburnians from leaving home for non-essential reasons. 

Protesters chanting ‘Freedom’ and ‘Power to the people’ were outnumbered by officers, with some demonstrators throwing fruit at police after raiding market stalls.   

Victoria Police arrested 74 people and issued at least 176 infringement notices for breaching the Chief Health Officer directions.  

A 44-year-old Burwood East man, believed to be a primary agitator for these protests, remains in police custody and is expected to be charged with incitement. His home will be subject to a search warrant.

Another person was arrested for assault police.

Police said many protestors were aggressive and threatened violence towards officers, however no members of the force were injured.

‘It was extremely disappointing to see people not just protesting, but putting the lives of other Victorians at risk despite all the warnings,’ a Victoria Police spokesperson said. 

‘Our investigations into this protest will continue, and we expect to issue further fines once the identity of individuals has been confirmed.’

Victoria police warned that anyone caught breaching COVID-19 directives will be punished.

‘While it remains unlawful for Victorians to leave home to protest, you can expect that Victoria Police will hold people to account,’ he said.

‘We again urge people not to leave home to protest’  

Footage of violent scuffles and officers on horseback moving through a group inside the market has been posted online.

‘There were a few tense moments when protesters started grabbing fruit and throwing it at police,’ photographer Erik Anderson said from the scene.

Protesters yelled ‘this is not a police state’ and ‘you’ve got to be on the right side of history’. 

Huge crowds of protesters were filmed marching down empty streets in Melbourne, calling for Daniel Andrews to ease the city’s draconian lockdown restrictions.

One man was spotted kicking a police horse as officers attempted to calm crowds hurling abuse at them as they rode through the markets.  

Melbourne remains in a Stage Four lockdown, meaning residents cannot leave their houses without a valid reason, and restrictions are in place to limit movement more than 5km from a person’s home. 

The restrictions remain in place, and both a State of Emergency and State of Disaster, have been extended a further four weeks despite the embattled state only recording 41 new cases and seven deaths on Sunday. 

The latest figures released on Sunday morning take the state’s death toll to 723 and the national count to 810 since the start of the pandemic in late January. 

Leading up to the demonstration, organisers used encrypted phone apps to communicate, in an attempt to avoid police finding out the location of the planned rally, Herald Sun reported. 

In messages sent to participants, organisers encouraged people to ‘be agile, like water’ and stick together throughout the course of the day.

‘Be ready to swarm the location to assemble. Once we have assembled, we are all safe,’ one of the organisers said.

‘Conducting these protests is dependent on having sufficiently large numbers to outnumber any police presence at a location of assembly.

‘Best way to achieve this is to ensure you have talked to everyone you know that might be interested in attending, and attempt to just bring at least one other person with you.’

Tensions between police and protesters escalated 11.45am on Sunday when about 50 people were cornered by police on Peel Street.

Riot police had to separate the crowd and Peel Street remains blocked off to the public.

Pictures taken at the scene show officers shepherding protesters through the streets and arresting people who do not comply with orders.  

One man wearing a red and black bandanna told police he had lost faith in authorities throughout the pandemic.

He told police he felt unsafe in their presence, and that contributed to his decision to attend the illegal protest.  

‘Dude I’m scared. I don’t even know how I’m going to pay this fine,’ he said. 

‘Heartless soulless people. We’ve all lost faith.’

The second protest for the weekend comes hours after a woman shared footage of police dragging her from her car. 

Natalie Bonett, 29, said she was making her way through the COVID blockade in Wallan, 60km north of Melbourne, on Saturday when she was stopped by police.

They informed her it was against the law to have her phone attached to a car charger which was mounted onto her windshield.

Following a brief and tense exchange, video shows the officer reach in drag the masked woman from her car as her passenger tried to pull her back in. 

Ms Bonett, a lash technician in Melbourne, screamed and pulled away from the officer in the footage, demanding he stop touching her and get out of her car. 

A passenger in the car attempted to hold her back, trying to tell the officer she’s ‘got anxiety’ while Ms Bonett became increasingly distressed. 

‘What the f**k are you doing, what the f**k, get off me,’ she shouted at the officer. 

Moments earlier, the cop had given her an opportunity to state her name, and asked her several times to get out of the car.

‘No, I don’t feel safe. You’re armed,’ she responded.  

Police previously vowed to issue more $1,652 fines ahead of Sunday’s protest.

‘Police had significant prevention activity in the lead up to and duration of today’s which included visiting 90 persons of interest to urge them not to attend,’ a police statement on Saturday said.

‘Our investigations into this protest will continue, and we expect to issue further fines once the identity of individuals has been confirmed.’

‘Anyone thinking of attending a protest can expect the same swift and firm response from police as has occurred today and at previous protests that were in breach of Chief Health Officer restrictions.’

Officers on horseback and in riot gear marched through the city during Saturday’s protests.

Demonstrators were taken away in handcuffs as police tried to avoid a repeat of last week’s protest that saw violent clashes leading to 17 arrests.

One man was arrested on Saturday after holding an anti-lockdown sign and calling out to police outside the Shrine of Remembrance.

The man told News Corp he wasn’t a conspiracy theorist but was anti-government and nodded when asked if it was ‘worth the fine’.

Another mask-wearer was seen being spoken to by an officer while holding a sign that read: ‘I am just exercising… my human rights’. 

One elderly woman had her details taken by police after she held up a sign with the message: ‘open our churches’.  

One woman was dramatically restrained on the ground by multiple officers at the Observatory Gate because she wouldn’t give her ID, the Herald Sun reported. 

She was shoved into the back of a police car while screaming to be let go.

‘They’ve arrested me because I won’t say my name. I’ve been in Melbourne all my life, I just want to go for a walk,’ the woman said.  

Meanwhile a man with a picture of Premier Daniel Andrews stuck to the back of his face shield paraded through the protest while another had a mask saying ‘sack Daniel Andrews’. 

The ‘Freedom Walk’ is believed to be the doing of sacked Clive Palmer political candidate and conspiracy theorist Tony Pecora, 43.

Mr Pecora was arrested by police after allegedly planning the event and charged with two counts of incitement. 

The 43-year-old allegedly created the event on social media under the alias Arkwell Tripellego.

He believes the deadly coronavirus was ‘genetically engineered by world banks to kill off weak humans’.

He then quoted Midnight Oil, allegedly telling police if someone contracted coronavirus at one of his events ‘it would be better to die on your feet than live on your knees’. 

On Sunday, Mr Andrews announced an extension of the State of Emergency and State of Disaster in Victoria.

Minister for Health Jenny Mikakos said the extension of the State of Emergency, which will now last until at least October 11, was crucial for the implementation of necessary COVID-safe guidelines. 

‘The State of Emergency ensures we have all the tools we need to fight this virus – keeping all of us safe,’ she said.

Meanwhile Minister for Police and Emergency Services Lisa Neville said it wasn’t an easy decision to make.

‘Extending a State of Disaster is never a decision we make lightly – and it won’t be in place a moment longer than it needs to be,’ she said on Sunday. 

‘We are at a critical point right now. And we have to do everything we can to hold onto the gains we’ve made, which means giving Victoria Police everything they need to enforce the Chief Health Officer’s directions as we keep driving down cases.’ 

The financial rescue package will inject up to $1.1billion into small and medium sized businesses that are most affected by coronavirus restrictions. 

A further $251million will be dedicated solely to support bars, restaurants, pubs, clubs and hotels which have been decimated during the two lockdowns.

The Licenced Venue Fund will provide grants of up to $30,000 to venues, while the government has also waived liquor license fees for 2021. 

‘For our state to recover, we need our businesses to recover too. As we take our first safe and steady steps towards COVID Normal, this support will help make sure we get through this together,’ Mr Andrews said.

‘We’ll continue meeting with and listening to businesses, so we can do everything we can to support them and their workers.’

From Monday, the city of Melbourne will move from the strict Stage Four lockdown into the first step of the roadmap toward reopening.

While modest, the changes will allow for more time outdoors and social interactions.

Mr Andrews said if numbers were kept low the state could open with ‘real confidence’ and keep them low.

‘You can open up and stay open,’ he said. ‘That is what we want and that is what we will deliver.

‘That is what we will deliver in regional Victoria and right across metropolitan Melbourne, not bouncing in and out of lockdowns, but making sure that everything that Victorians have given counts for something and delivers us, as I said, a summer that will be like no other.’ 

People living alone or single parents will be able to invite one other person into their homes.

Mr Andrews said he would allow ‘social bubbles’ even when exercising outdoors, which will now be extended to up to two hours per day – which can be split over two sessions. 

Playgrounds and outdoor fitness equipment will reopen, and Melbourne’s 8pm lockdown has been pushed back to 9pm.  

Regional Victoria will also enjoy the loosening of several restrictions after successfully stemming the spread of the virus.

Up to five people from two separate households will be able to gather in public places, while outdoor pools and playgrounds will also open.

Religious services will be able to go ahead with up to five people.