Four activists scaling the sails of the Sydney Opera House in protest of the humanitarian crisis unfolding on Manus Island have been removed by police.
The protest was organised by the Whistleblowers, Activists and Citizens Alliance (WACA) on Thursday.
The group’s activists – Laura Mastwyk, Marco Avena, Poppy Danis and Lara Pagemans – planned to scale the west-facing sail of the Opera House to unfurl a 60m by 60m banner that says: ‘Evacuate Manus #BringThemHere.’
However, WACA spokesman Lily Matchett told Daily Mail Australia that police rescue crews removed the climbers just as Ms Mastwyk and Mr Avena were in the process of unfurling the banner.
A number of protesters scaled the sails of the Sydney Opera House on Thursday morning
The protest was organised in response to the humanitarian crisis unfolding on Manus Island
They were taken into police custody and are in the process of coming down from atop the Opera House.
‘The banner was haldway through being unfurled when police took it, reeled it in until the climber who was abseiling came up with it,’ Ms Matchett added.
She also confirmed that another activist with the group, Nicholas Avery, was arrested at the scene for destruction of property, adding that he had broken a lock.
However, she said that one of the climbers had managed to unfurl a much smaller banner while atop the Opera House that said: ‘Australia world leaders in cruelty.’
Officers were called to the scene at 10.20am on Thursday to reports of a protest, an NSW Police spokesman told Daily Mail Australia.
One of the climbers shared a selfie taken from atop the Sydney Opera House on Thursday
She said officers remain at the Opera House, but could not confirm further details.
In a statement ahead of the protest, WACA said: ‘We are here today because the Australian government is failing to uphold basic human rights. We call on both Liberal and Labor to end offshore detention and bring the refugees here immediately.
‘Right now men on Manus Island are starving, stricken with thirst, and suffering enormous torment. This is the result of incompetence, bigotry, and a sick political process.
‘The Australian government must let New Zealand take 150 of the men today and bring the remaining 450 men to Australia and allow them to choose where they resettle.’
Police have reportedly arrested one person after being called to the scene at 10.20am
Police were called to the Opera House after activists scaled the sails in protest of the crisis unfolding on Manus Island
Ms Mastwyk, one of the climbers, said: ‘The Sydney Opera House is Australia’s international icon.
‘But increasingly, our country is internationally recognised for our human rights abuses to refugees.’
Mr Avena added: ‘This brutal policy has reduced us as a nation and a community.
‘We act today in the interest of our own humanity not just the humanity of those left on Manus Island.’