Police and neo-Nazis have clashed on the steps of Victoria’s Parliament House ahead of a planned “peaceful” anti-immigration rally in Melbourne.
Footage of the conflict has emerged on Twitter, showing items being hurled during the confrontation in Melbourne about 11am.
Members of Melbourne’s National Socialist Network had planned the event from midday on Saturday, but ralliers and counter-protesters began arriving on Spring St from 10am.
“We are organising in opposition to the system’s importation of 715,000 immigrants … further exasperating the housing crisis and ethnic replacement of white Australians in their own suburbs and towns,” a flyer for the event reads.
“This will be a peaceful and legal demonstration.”
Prior to the clash with police, members could be seen unfurling a banner reading “living space for whites: stop immigration”.
In response, Victoria Police declared the CBD a “designated area” from 7am to 7pm, granting police stop and search powers.
“Police officers and protective services officers are empowered to search a person and any thing in the possession or control of the person, or a vehicle for weapons,” Victoria Police said in a statement.
