Violent Clashes, Claims of Acid Throwing at Melbourne Anti-Weapons Protest

Protesters confront police outside the Land Forces 2024 arms fair in Melbourne on Sept. 11, 2024. William West/AFP via Getty Images

Violent clashes have broken out between police and protesters outside the Land Forces exhibition at Melbourne’s South Wharf. The conference and trade exhibition is held once every two years, attracting hundreds of defence officials and personnel from around the world.

Among the more than 800 organisations represented this year, many are exhibitors, including several weapons manufacturers.

Police were anticipating up to 25,000 demonstrators and had called on interstate forces for help well before the event, but later put the number at just 1,200.

Authorities locked down all roads leading to the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre, with ramps to the M1 freeway and West Gate Freeway also blocked, causing significant traffic delays.

Those using public transport fared no better, with workers forced off buses and trams if the routes took them anywhere near the venue.

Police invoked anti-terror legislation to give themselves increased powers to search any person or vehicle within the area.

One protester was arrested days before the event after she stopped her car on Melbourne’s West Gate Freeway. Police said she then “affixed” herself to the vehicle, blocking the freeway for hours.

A protester confronts police outside the Land Forces 2024 arms fair in Melbourne, Australia, on Sept. 11, 2024. William West/AFP via Getty Images

Before the event began, dozens of police created a barricade outside the convention centre to make way for attendees to enter, while protesters were seen flanking either side.

Clashes between the two groups occurred from early morning and lasted throughout the day.

At about 8:30 a.m., protesters attacked two men who were attempting to enter the centre before police intervened. Other attendees were met with screams of “shame,” “war pigs,” or “get a real job” as police used capsicum spray and yelled at the crowd to “get back.”

Wheelie bins were set on fire and thrown towards police as the protest moved to the Spencer Street Bridge at about 9:15 a.m.

Mounted police were bombarded with rocks, horse manure, eggs, and other projectiles, along with bottles of liquid.

Police, Protestors Met With Violence

A police spokesperson claimed officers had been sprayed with liquid which had been identified as acid. Officers on foot were spat at.

Heavily armed officers then deployed rubber bullets, tear gas, and flashbang grenades to force protesters back, but the fighting—and arrests—continued until just after 2:00 p.m. when rain set in, causing most of the demonstrators to disperse.

The Container Transport Alliance Australia said in a media release that at least five heavy vehicles were targeted by protesters while stopped at major intersections around Melbourne.

Knives or other sharp implements were used to sever the airlines that control the braking system between a prime mover and trailer, “severely impacting” container freight movements.

A Victoria Police spokesperson said they were “appalled at the behaviour of some of the protesters,” and that 24 officers had required medical treatment.

Protesters confront police outside the Land Forces 2024 arms fair in Melbourne, Australia, on Sept. 11, 2024. William West/AFP via Getty Images

But rally organisers said they were met with a similar level of violence from police.

Spokesperson Caroline Da Silva said, “Police have attacked us with blows, kicks, boots on our throats, tear gas, pepper spray, and rubber bullets. We are expressing community anger in the only way that is available to us—on the streets.”

Victoria’s Greens leader Ellen Sandell said she had written to the state’s anti-corruption commission calling for an independent inquiry into police tactics and “excessive use of force” at the protest.

Government Reaction

Greens MP Gabrielle Di Vietri attended the protest and made a speech to activists while parliament was sitting. She insisted the state government should have cancelled the “deadly weapons expo.”

But Premier Jacinta Allan retorted that conflict overseas “should not be turned into an opportunity to drive conflict on the streets of Melbourne.”

A Thales Protected Mobility Vehicle (PMV) carrying a Raytheon High Mobility Launcher is displayed at the Land Forces 2024 arms fair in Melbourne, Australia, on Sept. 11, 2024. William West/AFP via Getty Images

Allan estimated that 3,000 people had taken part, and described the protest as “potentially dangerous and dynamic,” while Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said police “should be respected at all times.”

“People have a right to protest peacefully, but you don’t say you’re opposed to defence equipment by throwing things at police,” he said.

Victorian Police Minister Anthony Carbines echoed that sentiment.

“There’s nothing but disrespect being shown from some protesters who want to behave like idiots and police will deal with you,” he said.

A spokesperson for the protest group Disrupt Land Forces, Jasmine Duff, said it was triggered by the government’s stance on the conflict in the Middle East.

“Many of the weapons inside the convention centre are advertised as battle-tested,'' she said. ”In the context of Israeli weapons firms, which are present, this means tested through killing civilians in Gaza.”

Victoria Police put the cost of today’s operation at between $10 million (US$6.7 million) and $15 million.