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Violence has erupted in central Sydney as hundreds of Muslims protest against a controversial film about the Prophet Mohammed.
It is the latest in a series of demonstrations that have killed at least six people in the Protestors have also marched through
The wave of protests spread to Sydney’s CBD this afternoon, beginning outside the United States Consulate and spreading through the city’s streets to Hyde Park.
The protest was sparked by a mass text message saying: “We must defend the honour of our prophet, we must act now.”
NSW Police Superintendent Mark Walton said the demonstration was unorganised and some protesters “came forearmed to cause damage”.
He said up to 150 police officers were called to the protest. Six officers were injured during the afternoon and two were taken to hospital for treatment.
Superintendent Walton said the protesters left the demonstration by 6:00pm.
Here is how the story developed throughout the day:
6:00pm: Police have defended their response to demonstrations in Sydney, part of a Muslim protest against a controversial film about the Prophet Mohammed.
In a press conference, Superintendent Mark Walton said eight people were arrested during the “unannounced protest”.
Up to 150 police officers attended the incident throughout the day. Six officers were injured, including two who were taken to hospital for treatment.
Two police vehicles were also damaged.
Superintendent Walton said the protesters have now “self-dispersed” throughout the city. Police remain at the scene.
5:50pm: Sydney police are holding a press conference. A spokesman said up to 150 officers attended the protest and six officers were injured. Two have been treated in hospital.
5.12pm: Reporter Josh Bavas has talked to ABC News 24 about the moment the protest turned violent.
“Some people in their cars … were trapped while the protesters were running past, with police quite close behind them,” he said.
“Because the protest spread out so quickly… police were scrambling to get together.
“I heard one man yell out ‘shame on you’ before the protesters [turned on him]. I don’t know if he was injured.”
5.10pm: Journalist Jamila Rizvi was shopping at the scene earlier today. She has told ABC News 24 it was much calmer earlier on.
She says the women and children who were present earlier have now gone, and believes a small minority has taken over the protest.
She says it would be a shame if there was a backlash against the Muslim community in the wake of today’s protest.
4.45pm: The Hyde Park protest has taken a violent turn as police scrambled to control angry demonstrators.
Several people were reportedly injured as protesters pulled down barricades and shocked passers-by took cover.
Reporter: “Scenes very ugly. All over streets.”
He says police are scrambling towards Oxford Street from Hyde Park.
4.30pm: Before the violence erupted, the ABC’s Winsome Denyer told ABC News 24 the situation appeared to be cooling:
4.20pm: The group is made up of Muslim men, women and children of all ages.
One protester was carrying a placard that read “behead those who insult the Prophet”.
The group shouted “down, down USA”, while another protester yelled: “Our dead are in paradise. Your dead are in hell.”
Here, the ABC talks to some of the demonstrators about why they are there:
Earlier in the afternoon, ABC reporter Josh Bavas described heated scenes in Hyde Park.
Bavas says the protest is linked to a controversial low-budget film, Innocence of Muslims, which denigrates the Islamic Prophet Mohammed and belittles the religion he founded.
The film touches on themes such as pedophilia and homosexuality, while also showing the Prophet sleeping with women, talking about killing children and referring to a donkey as “the first Muslim animal”.
“We are sick and tired of everyone mocking our beloved Prophet,” protester Houda Dib said.
“They have no right to mock our Prophet. We don’t go around mocking anyone’s religion.”
One speaker called for calm, saying the aim of their protest had been to send a message.
“We are here for the sake of our God,” he said.
“The message is clear; you cannot mock (the Prophet).”
ABC reporter Emma Pollard was caught in the earlier Martin Place protest and says police tried to form a line in front of the demonstrators.
She says police used pepper spray on protesters, who were throwing objects and bottles of water at the officers.
“I saw one police officer get dragged out into a clear area and he had lots of blood all over his face,” she said.
“I could feel the pepper spray catching in the back of my throat so it was drifting everywhere.”
The Ambulance service says paramedics have treated at least one person with head injuries.
I’m very happy to see that the Australian police did not make the non-muslims on the street leave. That they were allowed to film what was happening, and that those people also walked forward with the police. This shows the support for, and solidarity with the police/law of Australia. I only wish it was like this in my country.