Ugly scenes at Melbourne CBD protest against Manus Island

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Ugly scenes at Melbourne CBD protest against Manus Island

By Melissa Cunningham
Updated

A man was wrestled to the ground by police after a protest in Melbourne's CBD in support of Manus Island asylum seekers turned ugly.

The man, who was reportedly a right-wing protester, stormed the rally before he grabbed a microphone and called the refugees "rapists", sparking mayhem in the crowd.

A violent brawl broke out between protesters and the man, with television footage from the scene showing one protester lying on the ground, while others are in a heated stand-offs with police.

A ring of more than 100 police officers encircled the protesters at the State Library as protesters chanted "bring them here and end the siege" and waved placards that described Manus Island as "Guantanamo Bay" and "murder".

A protest over the Manus Island detention centre turned ugly in Melbourne's CBD.

A protest over the Manus Island detention centre turned ugly in Melbourne's CBD.Credit: Joe Armao

There are reports that a number of people have been arrested but Victoria Police are yet to confirm this.

The demonstration was met by a heavy police presence, with officers blocking the protesters from heading towards the city's busiest intersection outside Flinders Street Station.

The rally was organised by the Refugee Action Collective in solidarity with more than 400 men who have refused to leave the Australian-funded regional processing centre on Manus Island over fears for their safety outside.

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The month-long stand-off at the centre ended violently on Friday after Papua New Guinea police carrying batons raided the decommissioned processing centre and forced out about 330 remaining refugees and asylum seekers.

A protest over the Manus Island detention centre turned ugly in Melbourne's CBD.

A protest over the Manus Island detention centre turned ugly in Melbourne's CBD.Credit: Joe Armao

The PNG authorities had entered the decommissioned Manus Island detention centre on Thursday and gave the men in the facility an ultimatum to leave.

There were unconfirmed reports authorities had been aggressive, and one detainee claimed two men had been "beaten up".

A protester in support of Manus Island asylum seekers.

A protester in support of Manus Island asylum seekers.Credit: Joe Armao

PNG police had told Fairfax Media they would not use force against the refugees, but confirmed they were in the camp talking to the men, hoping to convince them to leave.

The final action on Friday follows repeated deadlines issued – but not enforced – by the PNG government over the three weeks since the centre was shut down.

An asylum seeker collapsing after police enter the Manus Island detention centre on Manus Island on Thursday.

An asylum seeker collapsing after police enter the Manus Island detention centre on Manus Island on Thursday.

Iranian asylum seeker Behrouz Boochani, who is detained on Manus Island and has been one of the most prominent of the group reporting on the condition inside the detention centre, had claimed on Friday the men were now "under attack".

"The police, special forces, police squad are now in their hundreds, spreading through the prison camp and around the prison," he said. "Navy soldiers are outside the prison camp. We are on high alert right now. We are under attack."

"Some of the police squad are swearing at the refugees and threatening them to move. Police have started to break the shelters, water tanks.They are destroying everything. Shelters, tanks, beds and all of our belongings."

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