Chaos Erupts in Sydney as Protesters Clash with Police at Defence Expo: 13 Arrested, Officers Injured and Paint-Bombed
- Thirteen people arrested after protests turned violent at the Indo Pacific International Maritime Exposition in Sydney
- Police officers injured and paint-bombed as demonstrators clashed with authorities outside the Sydney International Convention Centre
- Palestine Action Group protests against Israeli defence contractors exhibiting at the event, with Premier Chris Minns defending the industry as a vital part of NSW’s economy
Dramatic scenes unfolded in Sydney today as protesters and police clashed outside a defence conference, leaving 13 people arrested and several officers injured. The Indo Pacific International Maritime Exposition, which began on Tuesday, features a range of maritime and naval organisations, including Israeli defence contractors Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Elbit Systems.
The protests, organised by the Palestine Action Group, started peacefully but quickly turned violent as demonstrators shouted chants and waved Palestinian flags. Riot squad, dog, and mounted unit police were deployed to contain the situation, with officers using pepper spray multiple times to disperse the crowd.
“In a heartbreaking development, two officers were injured in the clashes, with one suffering a laceration to his nose,” said Superintendent Paul Dunstan. “The group continued to yell and threaten police, and a further incident took place when paint, a bucket of paint, was picked up and thrown at police.”
Police were “set upon” by protesters, according to Superintendent Dunstan, who expressed disappointment at the actions of the Palestine Action Group. “We’ve been working with the Palestine Action Group for the last two years, and what happened today was entirely out of character,” he said.
The protest also drew criticism from Premier Chris Minns, who defended the defence industry as a vital component of the state’s economy. “Defence industries, particularly the maritime sector, are responsible for a massive part of our economy… and in every single plan that I have seen in terms of jobs transitions in the Hunter particularly, as we move away from coal extraction and export, defence industries are a massive part of the future plan,” Minns said.
The event, sponsored by the NSW government and Investment NSW, aims to showcase the close cooperation between the Australian Defence Force, defence industry, international partners, and other agencies, all working toward the shared goal of maritime security and a peaceful, prosperous Indo-Pacific.
Despite the chaos, the three-day event is set to continue, with organisers vowing to maintain a safe and secure environment for attendees.