Author: Renju Jose
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australia’s leader urged calm on Tuesday and called on protests to remain peaceful after clashes broke out in Sydney between police and demonstrators opposing Israeli President Herzog’s visit to Australia.
Police said violence broke out in central Sydney on Monday night when people failed to leave a planned protest site and police cleared pedestrian pathways, leading to 27 arrests, 10 of them on suspicion of assaulting police officers.
New South Wales Police said in a statement that there were no reports of serious injuries.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he was “shocked” by the violence and urged protesters to express their views peacefully.
“Australians want two things. They don’t want the conflict to be brought here. They want the killing to stop, whether it’s Israelis or Palestinians, but they don’t want the conflict to be brought here,” Albanese told Triple M radio.
“Scenes like these don’t advance these causes—they undermine them.”
Thousands of people gathered in central Sydney on Monday to protest Herzog’s visit to Australia after a mass shooting at a Jewish religious event on Bondi Beach in December that left 15 people dead.
Police have been authorized to use rarely used powers during protests, including directing the movement of crowds, restricting their access to certain areas and searching vehicles. A legal challenge to the restrictions was dismissed by a Sydney court on Monday. Herzog was not present at the protest.
Television footage showed some protesters trying to break through the blockade but being forced back by police. Some people were seen lying on the ground as police tried to subdue them.
Police used tear gas and pepper spray to disperse the crowd.
New South Wales Premier Chris Mings defended the police action, saying police needed to make quick decisions in tense and volatile situations and urging calm.
“It’s a difficult situation for police officers who are trying to protect the public and public safety,” Mings told ABC.
Sydney Action for Palestine said in a statement that protesters were unable to leave the event as they were surrounded by police on all sides.
“Police began charging into the crowd with horses, pepper-spraying them indiscriminately, beating and arresting people,” the group said.
Assistant Chief Constable Peter McKenna said police’s actions were reasonable and they showed restraint.
“It can be very dangerous at times for our officers because our officers are vastly outnumbered by protesters and people who want to engage in violent and aggressive behavior,” McKenna said.
(Reporting by Renju Jose in Sydney; Editing by Lincoln Feast.)