NSW Police has defended the removal of a protester waving an Israeli flag at a pro-Palestine rally on Monday, claiming it was for ‘his own safety’.
Around 1,000 protesters flocked to Sydney’s Town Hall on Monday evening for a Free Palestine rally in the wake of reignited violence between Palestine and Israel.
The rally kicked off with various chants including ‘Resistance is justified when Palestine is occupied’, ‘Israel, Israel you can’t hide you’re committing genocide’ and ‘from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.’
But police leapt into action when a man, who has since been identified as Sydney businessman Mark Spiro, was carrying an Israeli flag – which he had not even unfurled – before three police officers dragged him away.
In an video of the incident, filmed by Daily Mail Australia, Mr Spiro can be heard repeatedly saying ‘I’ve done nothing wrong’.
There were scenes of chaos as the demonstration was hijacked by radical Muslims – some wearing black masks – who hurled lit flares at police and chanted ‘f*** Israel’ and ‘f*** the Jews’ beneath the steps of the Opera House (pictured)
An officer told him: ‘You’ve been arrested in relation to a breach of the peace.’
On Tuesday morning, NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Tony Cooke defended the decision to arrest Mr Spiro, claiming his presence ‘could have caused significant risk to him and others’.
‘I understand his view… (but) it was necessary,’ Mr Cooke said.
‘In the circumstances the best option for us was to take the actions we did.’
Mr Cooke added: ‘He was arrested to prevent a breach of the peace for his safety. He was removed and released.’
Mr Spiro later told Sky News he felt the officers’ actions were ‘excessive’ and that he felt like a ‘ragdoll’.
‘It was excessive and at the time having both your arms pinned back for effectively having a rolled up Israeli flag was shocking and confronting,’ Mr Spiro said.
‘The police they should feel ashamed of themselves quite frankly. I was an innocent bystander with a rolled up Israeli flag.’
Daily Mail Australia witnessed a large crowd of men attempting to set light to an Israeli flag with firecrackers before resorting to stamping on it and tearing it into shreds (pictured)
Meanwhile, Sydney businessman Mark Spiro (pictured) was arrested by police for holding an unfurled Israeli flag while repeatedly saying ‘I have done nothing wrong’
In total, Daily Mail Australia witnessed three individuals attempt to fly an Israeli flag before being chased away by protesters or arrested by the police ‘for their own safety’.
Abigail Lane, 23, a social care student originally from Tasmania, had an Israeli flag with the word ‘peace’ taken from her by police.
‘A police officer came and snatched it out of my hands and said: “Why the hell are you going in there with that sign? What the hell do you think you’re doing?”,’ she said.
‘I said: “I’m not Palestinian, I’m not Israeli. I’m just Irish-Australian and I don’t like that we are inciting hate here in Sydney. My sign said love not hate”.
‘I don’t think inciting more anger and violence is the solution.’
Shockingly, NSW Police felt compelled to warn Sydney’s Jewish community from entering Sydney’s CBD on Monday evening over safety concerns.
The protesters marched from Town Hall to the Sydney Opera House, chanting ‘Free Palestine’
The rally, organised by the Palestine Action Group Sydney, saw vast numbers of pro-Palestine activists gather at Town Hall in Sydney’s CBD on Monday evening before marching to the Opera House where its sails were it up in blue and white in support of Israel.
In the end, the sails were only lit up for a short time and in muted colours.
Israeli supporters largely stayed away, with some watching the illumination from the other side of Circular Quay.
There were scenes of chaos at the Opera House as the demonstration was hijacked by radical Muslims – some wearing black masks – who threw lit flares at police and chanted ‘f*** Israel’ and ‘f*** the Jews’ beneath the steps of the iconic harbouside venue.
At one point, there were even chants of ‘gas the Jews’.
Israel supporters kept their distance, watching the display from the other side of Circular Quay
Below the steps of the Opera House, a large crowd gathered waving Palestine flags
Daily Mail Australia witnessed a large crowd of men attempting to set light to an Israeli flag with firecrackers before stamping on it and tearing it to shreds.
Cries of ‘Allahu Akbar’ (God is great in Arabic) and ‘death to the Jews’ rang out as some members of the crowd swarmed towards the police barrier, brandishing torn pieces of the Israeli flag – despite the rally organisers calling for protesters to respect the police.
Over 100 cops formed a ring of steel along the steps of the Opera House and didn’t intervene when flares or other projectiles were thrown at them.
Instead, they placed the lit flares in buckets of water as acrid smoke filled the air.
On Tuesday morning, Assistant Commissioner Tony Cooke said police were looking at CCTV footage in an attempt to identify the flare-throwers.
‘I’m very disappointed in the strongest possible terms that people … utilised flares,’ Mr Cooke said.
‘The entire rally was covered by CCTV … (and we are) attempting to identify people who committed offences.’
Mr Cooke added: ‘This is New South Wales, we do not expect people to bring conflict from other places to the streets of Sydney.
‘Violence will not be tolerated and we were able to manage that to assure that there was no conflict last night.’
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