Land Forces, Melbourne: Protesters clash with police at Australia defense show

CNN — Dozens of people have been arrested after clashes between police and protesters outside a major defense expo in Australia on Wednesday, during which police fired rubber bullets at demonstrators and both sides accused the other of violence. However, Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton said complaints police used excessive force were “rubbish,” calling the protesters “hypocrites” for their behavior which he said was “absolutely appalling.” “I’ve used the term hypocrites because we support peaceful protest, and we facilitate that all the time. He said police had been abused, pushed, shoved, and had bottles and balloons thrown at them containing liquid that analysis showed to be “low-level acid that caused irritants.” Victoria Police on horses ward off protesters in Melbourne on September 11. Fire burns ahead of a Victoria Police riot squad line during a rally against the Land Forces International Land Defense Exposition in Melbourne, Australia September 11, 2024. Joel Carrett/AAP/Reuters Speaking to ABC Radio National from Melbourne before the conference started on Wednesday, Bec Shrimpton, director of defense strategy and national security at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute said “it’s very unfair to tarnish everybody with a genocide brush.” “The world is not as we would all like it to be and it is not a peaceful and stable place at the moment.