Riot police used capsicum spray to separate more than 300 rival protesters after violent clashes between anti-Islam and anti-racism rallies in Coburg, in Melbourne’s north.
Seven men, aged between 18 and 33, were arrested during the protests, which began on Bell Street shortly after 11am on Saturday and culminated with a scrap in the grounds of the old Pentridge Prison about 12.30pm.
Up to 500 police officers, including the riot squad and mounted police, attempted to separate the two groups but the protesters slipped the lines three times, resulting in brawls that involved people being kicked in the head, stomped on, and even hit with the pole of an Australian flag.
Channel Seven news footage, streamed on Facebook live, showed a group of anti-racism protesters, most with their faces covered and some sporting Guy Fawkes masks, marching up Sydney Road to cries of “No racist tossers” and “Nazi Nazi Nazi! Fuck right off!”
Channel Seven news footage, streamed on Facebook live, showed a group of anti-racism protesters, most with their faces covered and some sporting Guy Fawkes masks, marching up Sydney Road to cries of “No racist tossers” and “Nazi Nazi Nazi! Fuck right off!”
Police tried to keep the two groups about 50 metres apart but a small number broke away and attacked each other on the road, stopping when police used capsicum spray.
A second fight broke out near Coburg Primary school, where police again used pepper spray while other officers held people who had apparently been arrested to the side. A third fight occurred in the grounds of the old Pentridge Prison.
http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/may/28/melbourne-protests-racism-islam-rallies-police