Protests against closure in Sydney, 235 arrested and 10 wounded police officers

Police have arrested 235 people and 10 officers have been injured during violent protests against the impasse in Melbourne on Saturday. Of them, 193 were arrested for violations of COVID-19 restrictions, while others were arrested for other acts, including allegations of assaulting police, as well as criminal acts of drugs and weapons. Hundreds marched at the centre of the road, cheering “no more shut down” and holding banners with the same calls.

More than 2,000 policemen were gathered in CBD in Melbourne this morning in an effort to close the planned protests. Commander Mark Galliot, from Victorian Police, described the operation as successful.

“We were able to mobilise all our patrols and police resources to confront those groups and arrest those who violated the Order of the Chief of Health,”, Commander Galliot said.

Six of the 10 wounded officers were taken to the hospital. The officers suffered a series of injuries, including muscle cuts, broken elbows, broken noses, broken fingers and bruises, reports 9news, broadcast Clankosova.tv.

What we saw today was a group of protesters who gathered, not to protest the freedoms, but just to get and fight with the police. The only way to gain freedom as a society is to work together and achieve those vaccine rates. Commander Galliot said.

Police initially estimated that around 6000 over 7,000 people would attend the protests against the CBD deadlock, but only about 500 ♫ 700 protesters participated on Saturday.

The trip for and from Melbourne's CBD by public transportation and car was banned to prevent anti-blocking protesters from gathering in the CBD. By 2 pm, no train, tram, and bus were moving toward central Melbourne.