Unapologetic premier defends ‘violent’ police response
Alex Mitchell, Kat Wong and Tom Wark |
Muslim groups seeking an apology to their entire community have been left wanting as the NSW premier defies growing calls for an inquiry into a violent police response.
NSW Premier Chris Minns accepted his refusal to apologise could be antagonistic while providing steadfast backing of police who forcibly dispersed a group of people praying during a public protest.
He also stared down calls including from within his own party for an independent inquiry into policing at Monday’s protest because it might imply the law enforcement watchdog was not fit for purpose.
Officers were seen beating, pushing and pepper-spraying people in Sydney, including medics, who said they were violently pushed while attempting to treat the injured.
NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon earlier offered a qualified apology to Muslim groups but defended the actions of his officers, as anger continues to rumble over violent policing that broke up the protest.
Vision of a group of Muslims being dragged away while performing sunset prayers beside Sydney Town Hall prompted a mass outcry.
“I genuinely believe NSW Police, their leadership, their regular officers, would never, ever have disrupted a prayer service,” Mr Minns said.
“Police were left with a very difficult situation, I don’t believe they intended to cause offence.”
He conceded the Muslim community felt disconnected from society, particularly as a result of “hate, racism and bile” regularly experienced on Sydney’s streets.
Mr Lanyon defended police who tackled the men mid-prayer because they were following orders to disperse everyone from the area.
“I have apologised for offence taken for interfering with that religious process,” he told ABC Radio.
“But it needs to be taken in context that we were moving a violent and aggressive crowd.”
Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit was controversially declared a “major event”, a designation protest organisers unsuccessfully challenged in court, unlocking further police powers to move on activists.
When the event concluded, demonstrators – some trying to disperse and leave – could not move as police tried to stop the whole group from marching.
Officers used pepper spray and rushed at the crowd.
Street medic Omaim Al-Baghdadi was wearing a vest identifying herself as medical personnel when police arrived.
“We were trying to explain that we were doing treatments, but that didn’t really register, so we got pushed and pulled,” she told AAP.
“I found people laying down that were also injured, so I tried to commence treatment there, but again police came and pushed us quite violently.”
She said she treated other medics caught in police tear gas.
Riley Brooke initially attended the event as a protester but said she was applying first aid and had her hands up when “yanked” and thrown to the ground by police.
“I think (I was) saying, ‘I’m just flushing eyes out, I’m not in the protest anymore, I’m just doing first aid’,” they said.
Four Labor MPs have called on their leader to approve a review of the circumstances leading up to the clashes, held at arm’s length from police.
Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore agreed with those calls, adding her council had been involved in any discussion surrounding the major event declaration.
Laws enabling protest crackdowns and the decision to not allow a court challenge to the laws until the end of the month should be probed, protest attendee and Labor MP Stephen Lawrence said.
The anti-protest laws passed after December’s Bondi terror attack will be challenged in state parliament on Thursday.
Five people were taken to hospital after the protest and 27 arrested, with nine facing charges.
AAP
