Several people were arrested and two officers were injured as police declared two out-of-control gatherings in Perth’s city centre overnight.
Key points:
- Fighting first broke out in Perth at the scene of an earlier Invasion Day rally
- Hours later, police were called to another riot near McIver train station
- Two officers were taken to hospital with shoulder and head injuries
Police said they were called to Wellington Street outside Perth train station about 10pm on Thursday to disperse a crowd of about 150 people, after reports that two large groups of people were fighting.
Police said several people threw rocks and bottles at officers.
WA Police Senior Sergeant Adrian Fuller said the safety of the public and officers was put at risk.
“Police got additional resources and formed up some lines tactically to separate the persons and execute some arrests,” he said.
“Those people were conveyed to Perth watch house to be charged.”
More than 1,000 people gathered in that same location at Forrest Place hours earlier for the city’s Invasion Day rally.
The anti-Australia Day protest included live music, traditional dance and a smoking ceremony.
A range of people spoke against government interventions and other social justice issues including deaths in custody.
More trouble flares in East Perth
Several more arrests were made in the early hours of the morning, after police declared another out-of-control gathering about 1:20am at Moore Street, near the McIver train station in East Perth.
“Police responded to a number of people arming themselves with projectiles including broken paving bricks and a person armed with a tomahawk,” Sergeant Fuller said.
“Unfortunately, a number of officers were also injured whilst executing the arrest of a person.”
A WA Police spokesperson said bricks and broken pavers were thrown at police as they dispersed the crowd.
Two police officers were taken to hospital, one with a shoulder injury and the other with a head injury.
Investigations into both incidents are ongoing.