Australia's Victoria Police Arrest Over 200 Anti-Lockdown Protesters In Melbourne

Australia's Victoria Police Arrest Over 200 Anti-Lockdown Protesters in Melbourne

Australia's Victoria state police said on Wednesday that it had arrested more than 200 people during protests against COVID-19 restrictions in the city of Melbourne

MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 22nd September, 2021) Australia's Victoria state police said on Wednesday that it had arrested more than 200 people during protests against COVID-19 restrictions in the city of Melbourne.

Around 1,000 people took to the streets in Australia's second largest city, converging on a local war memorial for the third successive day, in violation of lockdown measures requiring that people stay home over surging COVID-19 cases. Arrests began after protesters started throwing bottles at police officers.

"Of those that came in, we arrested over 200 people," Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner for Public Safety and Security Ross Guenther told reporters, as quoted by the 9News broadcaster, adding that about 300 protesters were fined.

As a result of the clashes, two police officers sustained head injuries, while a third officer was hospitalized with chest pain.

The broadcaster reported those arrested had refused to speak to media on the scene, chanting "fake news" when approached by reporters.

Australia's aviation authority declared a no-fly zone over Melbourne until Sunday morning for security reasons at the request of the local police.

Protests were initiated by construction workers on Monday after the Australian authorities halted construction for two weeks to curb the spread of the coronavirus. People from all walks of life joined the Tuesday demonstration in downtown Melbourne.