HUNDREDS of protesters have clashed with police in Sydney as a wave of unrest against a film that mocks Islam spread to Australia. Eight people were arrested and six police injured after demonstrators clashed with officers in the streets of Sydney CBD.
About 1pm a group of people gathered at Town Hall in Sydney's CBD, before walking along George Street towards Martin Place, police said. Conflict between police and the group then broke out, as they attempted to enter the US consulate within the MLC Centre.
A growing group of protesters then moved to Hyde Park where around 300 people gathered, waving banners that had slogans such as “Behead all those who insult the Prophet” and “Our dead are in paradise, your dead are in hell”.
In the park, things again got out of hand, police Superintendent Mark Walton said.
“The group was unorganised and clearly split into factions, being some people being here to express their concerns from their community perspective,” Supt Walton told reporters. “However, there were other elements of the group who were clearly here with another intent. They were aggressive and violent at times and came into contact with police.”
He said eight people were arrested for various offences, including assaulting police and throwing a missile. Six police were injured, two officers were hospitalised and at least two police vehicles were damaged during the demonstration.
The male-dominated demonstration was the latest in a spate of protests at US embassies and consulates in the Middle East, Africa, London and elsewhere over a film that ridicules the Prophet Mohammed.
The film, Innocence of Muslims, has been condemned by governments across the world, including the White House.
Nevertheless, one protester, Abdullah Sary, said that America should not “play the role” of supporting the film. “The prophet is more beloved than my family, my wife, my mother and myself. So if someone says this, you can see how upsetting it is.”
As the afternoon wore on, the protest did die down, with men forming lines, falling to their knees and beginning to pray.
But when protesters started to leave the park and headed to St James station around 4.30pm, clashes again erupted as riot police with batons and shields stood at the bottom of the stairs. Protesters then began throwing sticks and bottles, before they were herded towards William Street, and some were restrained.
The splintered crowd then broke up further, running through Darlinghurst's back streets with riot police, mounted police and uniformed officers in pursuit. Protesters were then directed to split up into smaller groups and disperse.
Despite the violence, Supt Walton said “there was potential for it to escalate” far more than it did and he was “quite comfortable” with the way police reacted.
He said there was a significant amount of evidence that had been gathered through the media and police. Anyone who was identified committing offences would be “vigorously pursued”, he said.
