Anti-war protesters have clashed with police and hurled eggs and abuse at attendees arriving at a weapons exposition in Melbourne.
Hundreds of activists flooded the CBD on Wednesday morning, marching to the exhibition centre at South Wharf where numbers swelled.
Trams were disrupted and motorists delayed as protesters blocked the opening of the Land Forces exposition about 9am on Wednesday.
Dozens of police created a barricade outside the convention centre to make way for attendees to enter, with protesters flanking either side.
Activists threw water and eggs and yelled “war pigs” or “get a real job” at the attendees as they walked along Yarra Promenade to enter the expo.
“Shame on you, how does it feel to murder babies,” one group of protesters yelled in unison.
Some protesters fought with police, with one officer left with a bleeding face, while a cameraman was hit with pepper spray.
Victoria Police expects Wednesday’s protest to be its biggest operation in more than two decades as they deployed officers from around the state to the convention centre.
Police Minister Anthony Carbines thanked officers for their support as he issued a warning to protesters who may be turning violent.
“There’s nothing but disrespect being shown from some protesters who want to behave like idiots and police will deal with you,” he told reporters at state parliament.
Opposition police spokesman Brad Battin said he was concerned for the safety of officers.
“We’ve seen these kind of protests get out of hand when violence happens in the street,” he told reporters.
“We must stand by the public servants, those that serve and protect us, being the Victoria Police, it is our role and our responsibility to be their voice and to ensure they’re protected and can go home safe.”
Yarra Trams warned commuters of disruptions to several city-bound services.
The citybound exit of the West Gate Freeway was closed at Montague St, causing delays for those using both the West Gate and Bolte Bridges.
Disrupt Land Forces spokeswoman Jasmine Duff said the protest was triggered by the government’s stance on the conflict in the Middle East.
“We’re protesting to stand up for all those who have been killed by the type of weapons on display at the convention,” she said.
“Many of the weapons inside the convention centre are advertised as battle-tested. In the context of Israeli weapons firms, which are present, this means tested through killing civilians in Gaza.”
Federal Greens leader Adam Bandt said he hoped the demonstrations would not descend into any violence.
“I always urge peaceful protests. I think peaceful and non-violent protest is critical in this country,” Mr Bandt told ABC’s Radio National.
“What people are protesting about here is an end to the escalation of war, of starting to treat weapons manufacturing now as somehow an inherent good.”
Victoria Police expects it to be their biggest operation since chaos surrounding the World Economic Forum in 2000.
The Land Forces International Land Defence Exposition, which will host senior international military, defence, government, scientific and industry delegations from around the world, runs from Wednesday to Friday.
Source: AAP
