Dozens of police and protesters have been injured and 39 people arrested amid a series of confrontations at an anti-war protest in the Melbourne CBD in which pepper spray was deployed and horse faeces thrown at officers.
Fires broke out while police responded to a rally outside the Land Forces exposition – an international military conference – at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on Wednesday morning.
About 1,200 people attended the rally outside the centre, according to police estimates.
Rubbish bins were set alight on the Spencer Street Bridge near the convention centre, where protesters, riot police and mounted officers gathered.
Vision from the scene showed dramatic arrests of protesters and police using pepper spray on activists at the rally.
Victoria police on Wednesday afternoon said 24 officers, including those from interstate deployed to bolster the response, had required medical treatment so far.
Police said 39 people had been arrested for various offences including assaulting, obstructing and hindering police, assault, arson and blocking roadways.
Some protesters also threw objects at police horses, but no serious injuries were sustained, police said.
But Disrupt Land Forces, a coalition of activist groups involved in the protests, criticised the police response, saying they had been “attacked”, including with pepper spray and “rubber bullets”.
The organisers also declared the protest a success, saying it had delayed a breakfast held on the opening day.
In a statement, Victoria police said they were “appalled” at the behaviour of some of the protesters.
“This morning, those police have been pelted with missiles including bottles filled with liquid, rocks, and horse manure whilst trying to protect the attendees of the Land Forces expo, some of whom were also assaulted by protesters,” a spokesperson said.
“Some police have been spat at by protesters, whilst other officers have been sprayed with a liquid irritant, some of which has been identified as acid.”
Police said protesters had also lit fires on the streets, disrupted road networks and public transport.
“Officers have been forced to deploy various tactical options, including foam baton rounds, flash distraction devices, and PAVA powder (PAVA is a synthetic Oleoresin Capsicum product) to respond to those committing offences and to deter further offending,” police said.
Earlier, Anthony Albanese called for those in attendance to protest peacefully.
“People have a right to protest peacefully, but you don’t say you’re opposed to defence equipment by throwing things at police,” the prime minister said on the Seven network.
“They’ve got a job to do and our police officers should be respected at all times.”
The Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan said people had a right to protest peacefully but not to “behave in such a disgraceful way towards member of Victoria police.”
“I say to anyone going down to threaten police, to threaten community safety [they] will absolutely be dealt with by Victoria Police,” she said.
Allan also criticised Victorian Greens MP Gabrielle de Vietri who attended the rally on a parliamentary sitting day.
“If the member for Richmond can’t turn up and do her job, as an elected member of parliament, she should hand back the keys to her office,” she said.
De Vietri defended her attendance.
“MPs attend events during sitting weeks all the time. This is no different,” she said.
“I stepped out during the Lord’s Prayer and a couple of introductions. I missed no divisions, no votes, no opportunities to speak.”
Ellen Sandell, the leader of the Victorian Greens, called for the state’s anti-corruption watchdog to launch an inquiry into police tactics and “excessive use of force”.
The Victorian police chief commissioner, Shane Patton, said the Greens’ claims were “rubbish” and he had heard no mention of any unjust use of force other than in the party’s media release.
“I couldn’t be prouder of the officers down there and … the way they used restraint when confronted by people intent on provoking violence and using violence,” he said.
Patton said police were “forced” to deploy “non-lethal munitions” including capsicum spray and foam baton rounds and he thought their use had been “appropriate”.
He said he didn’t know if any protesters had been injured.
Patton would not say how many officers had been brought from interstate to assist with policing the expo.
Hundreds of regional police officers travelled to Melbourne for the event, along with general duties officers and specialist police.
The state treasurer, Tim Pallas, said earlier in the week that police had asked the state government for additional funds to cover the event, estimated to cost $10-15m.
Disrupt Land Forces spokesperson 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.”
One protester, Angelica Walker, 65, said she had travelled from St Kilda as she opposed the “war expo”.
“I can’t believe in Australia we are defending a war expo,” Walker said.
“I’ve been protesting for years – Pine Gap, Aboriginal rights, women’s rights, everything – and I’ve never in my life seen anything like this [police presence].”
The Land Forces International Land Defence Exposition runs from Wednesday to Friday.
