How Greens leader Adam Bandt issued dark warning about anti-war protest in Melbourne – as he defends the chaos

GreenLeft leader Adam Bandt defended chaotic and violent anti-war demonstrations in Melbourne, where thousands of protesters threw rocks and attacked police.

Mr Bandt last week issued a call to action on his X-profile about the Land Forces Defence Expo, which will be held from Wednesday to Friday at the convention centre in Naarm, the Indigenous name for Melbourne.

He wrote: ‘Land forces will be in Naarm next week.’

‘Labour is allowing the largest arms fair in the global south to sell weapons of war for profit, while the community desperately needs an end to genocide.

‘This cannot continue.’

On Wednesday, demonstrators took to the streets to protest the expo.

Gruesome footage showed groups of people attacking police horses, throwing stones, manure and chairs, climbing onto trucks and trying to break through police barricades.

As the chaos escalated – with bins being set on fire and journalists being pepper-sprayed and shot with rubber bullets – Mr Bandt defended the protest during a speech on ABC Radio National.

Police used pepper spray against some protesters on Wednesday morning (photo)

Pictured: Chaos and destruction in Melbourne as police use pepper spray on protesters on Wednesday

Victoria Police clash with protesters during a rally against the LandForces International Land Defence Exposition at the Melbourne Convention and Entertainment Centre on Wednesday

‘What people are protesting here is an end to the escalation of war, a start to treating arms production as an inherent good [is wrong]’, he said Wednesday morning.

My message is always twofold.

‘First, protests must be peaceful, and second, people, including the media, must pay attention to what people are protesting against. In this case, people are protesting against the proliferation of weapons of war.’

Several protesters were seen wrestling with the reins of police horses to prevent other protesters from passing.

A man wearing a long mullet and sunglasses was seen repeatedly grabbing a rein before attempting to snatch a horse whip from the hands of a mounted officer.

Another disturbing video shows protesters throwing things that appear to be horse manure at a group of mounted police officers.

Officers were seen with feces on their helmets and uniforms as they tried to control the crowd, with some even using capsicum spray.

Anthony Albanese has spoken out about the demonstration, saying that “people have the right to protest peacefully.”

“But you don’t say you’re against defence equipment by throwing things at the police,” he told Sunrise.

“They have a job to do and our police officers deserve respect at all times.”

Pictured: Protesters arrive at the protest early Wednesday morning

Pictured: Anti-war protesters attempt to break through police barricades on Wednesday

Early in the morning, the crowd left the convention center, where police were present in large numbers, and headed to a major intersection. They tried to block the intersection, while mounted police tried to keep them away.

Victoria Police were given ‘special powers’ under the Terrorism (Community Protection) Act in the area around the exhibition centre until 11.59pm on September 15.

Under the powers, it is a criminal offence to obstruct a search of a home or to fail to comply with an order to remove a face covering.

“This is expected to be our largest operation since the World Economic Forum in 2000,” a Victoria Police spokesman said.

‘There will be a number of police officers present at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre to ensure the highest level of safety and security during the event.

‘This includes hundreds of regional police officers who will travel to Melbourne for the event, alongside general metropolitan police and specialist police including the Public Order Response Team, Highway Patrol and the Mounted Branch.’