Astonishing moment police take aim at journalists during anti-war protest – as lawyers launch legal action after part of a photographer’s EAR was ‘blown off’ and Mail reporter was shot

Rapid-fire police officers are accused of shooting off part of a news photographer’s ear and attacking media during wild “peace protests” in Melbourne.

Wayne Flower, Daily Mail Australia’s Melbourne correspondent, was one of the media representatives shot by police during the protests.

Footage captured by Flower in the seconds before he was shot with a gas-filled rubber bullet shows several police officers aiming their weapons at him.

The allegations are now one of a number that could give rise to claims for damages as law firms prepare to take legal action against Victoria Police.

Media representatives, many of whom carried multiple cameras, stood at the front of the protest as police fired non-lethal rounds at them and those around them.

A photographer who takes pictures for pro-Palestinian groups claims he lost part of his ear and perforated an eardrum after being shot with a rubber bullet by police during the protest.

The 33-year-old photographer, who provides images for Free Palestine Melbourne and Free Palestine Coalition Naarm, was wounded around 10am on Wednesday, almost the same time as Flower was shot.

Jeremy King, chief counsel and head of the misconduct department at Robinson Gill, told the ABC he had been approached by several people with injuries that required “significant medical attention”.

“We have had a number of investigations into the use of rubber bullets and excessive force by police, where people appear to have sustained quite serious injuries,” he said.

‘We have made many complaints in the past against Victoria Police for their crackdown on protesters and the media, so we are very familiar with these types of issues.’

Media representatives injured on Clarendon Street are reportedly set to join the legal action.

Footage obtained by Daily Mail Australia shows journalists – wearing identification lanyards, holding heavy video cameras and carrying cameras – being threatened with batons by officers during police charges.

One of the videos shows Flower, who was now standing among the media, being forced to his knees as an officer in a New South Wales police uniform rushes toward him with a baton raised above his head.

A Victoria Police spokesperson said officers used “proportionate and lawful force” against the crowd and violent individuals.

“There were no specific individuals targeted. The media present were asked on several occasions to ensure they stayed out of the way and did not interfere with the dynamic situation,” the spokesperson said.

‘Force was only used in response to violence from individuals in the crowd, to prevent further violations.’

Flower, who has covered Melbourne crime for several major news organisations in his 25 years in the role, said police appeared to have “lost their cool”.

“Within minutes of arriving, I was being shot at,” he said. “It was like they were firing bullets at anyone they didn’t like.

“I repeatedly told them I was a reporter after I was shot, but they still came at us like we were protesting. It’s something I’ve never seen before, even during the Covid-19 protests.”

The news photographer who was shot by police told The Age that he stood about 25 yards from a line of police officers that had blocked Spencer Street.

His last photo before the incident shows more than 20 protesters, journalists and other photographers standing between him and police when the rubber bullet was fired.

“It felt like I had been hit by a car, I didn’t see it coming,” he said The age.

“There was a sharp pain and a buzzing sound in my head. I put my hand to my ear and I could feel a throbbing pain and I realized there was blood, and that I had lost part of my ear.”

Photographer Luis Ascui, who was sprayed directly in the eyes by police while photographing a rally in September 2021, told Daily Mail Australia that police urgently needed to work with media organisations to ensure the safety of media representatives as they do their work.

Ascui, who has worked in war zones around the world, said he only felt threatened by police in Australia.

“Enough is enough. I mean, what’s going to happen next? It’s only here in Australia that working journalists are being targeted by police,” he said.

‘Media bosses need to address this issue because we need to be able to cover these jobs without being attacked.’

Ascui, who was unharmed during last week’s protests, was carrying three cameras and wearing a media credential when he was pepper-sprayed in 2021.

He was represented by King and settled a lawsuit with Victoria Police out of court.