Australia Anti-lockdown Rallies: Protesters Violently Clash with Police in Melbourne

THE GUARDIAN: Thousands march through streets of Melbourne and Brisbane, as police try to prevent Sydney rally

Protesters opposed to Covid lockdowns clash with police in Melbourne, Australia. Photograph: Dave Hewison/Speed Media/Rex/Shutterstock
Anti-lockdown protesters clashed violently with police as thousands of unmasked people marched through the streets of Melbourne on Saturday.

Victoria police said they had made 218 arrests and that six officers were hospitalised during a series of altercations. Police said in a statement the majority of the estimated 4,000 demonstrators “came with violence in mind”.

“The behaviour seen by police was so hostile and aggressive that they were left with no choice but to use all tactics available to them,” the statement said.

Footage posted on social media showed protesters cheering, throwing objects at police officers and letting off flares as well as police pepper-spraying protesters.

The Melbourne protests took place after Victoria’s premier, Daniel Andrews, announced a lockdown in place across Melbourne would be extended across the entire state. The state recorded 77 new cases of coronavirus on Saturday.

More than 700 extra Victorian police officers were deployed to contain the lockdown protest.

Police said they had, for the first time during a lockdown protest, used non-lethal tactics that included rounds of pepper spray projectiles and canisters.

Two police officers suffered broken noses. One officer was hospitalised with a broken thumb and others suffered concussion. » | Ben Smee and Graham Readfearn | Saturday, August 21, 2021

G20-Gipfel: Merkel spricht mit Putin lange unter vier Augen

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Das Treffen dauerte deutlich länger als erwartet: Fast vier Stunden sprach Kanzlerin Merkel im Hotel mit Wladimir Putin. Es ging um die Ukraine-Krise.

Das Hilton in der Elisabeth Street im Stadtzentrum von Brisbane ist ein hoher Hotelturm inklusive Parkhaus und Shoppingmall. Am Samstagabend gleicht der Komplex einer Festung. Ein Schutzwall aus Plexiglas umgibt die Einfahrt, daneben mehrere Metalltore, davor zwei Dutzend Polizisten. Die Straße ist zeitweise komplett gesperrt.

Um 21.40 Uhr fährt die Limousine von Russlands Präsident Wladimir Putin ins Hotel, vier Minuten später der weiße BMW der deutschen Kanzlerin, auch mit Polizei-Eskorte. Auf dem Rücksitz neben der Kanzlerin sitzt Christoph Heusgen, Merkels Außenpolitikberater. Die beiden besprechen die letzten Details für das Treffen mit dem Kreml-Herrscher.

Es steht viel auf dem Spiel. » | Aus Brisbane berichtet Peter Müller | Mit Material von dpa | Samstag, November 15, 2014

Australian Muslim Teenager Claims She Was Held Against Her Will by a Service Station Worker in a Perceived Racist Attack

COURIERMAIL.COM.AU: TEENAGER Hafsah Negussie claims she was held against her will at a Brisbane service station after a worker confused company policy and refused to serve her.

Ms Negussie, a Muslim who wears a veil while in public, said she tried to pay for her goods and go, but claimed the attendant locked the doors when she attempted to leave.

The incident, which occurred at a BP service station on Brisbane's southside in December last year, was reported to police but no official report was filed until Ms Negussie came forward again in April.

"I'm Australian, I was born and raised here, I know my rights. It's so horrific,'' Ms Negussie said.

A company spokesman for BP service stations said the business required customers to remove helmets, hoodies or large hats before approaching the counter. » | Angela Ranke, Southern Star | Monday, April 29, 2013