Splendour arrivals on Gold Coast forced to have their bags checked by police dogs

Passengers flying in for the Splendour in the Grass festival were pounced on by police after arriving  at the airport and ordered to drop their bags so they could be checked by dogs. 

A shocking photo showed confused festival-goers lined up against a wall at Gold Coast Airport on Friday with their luggage on the floor in front of them.

Each individual then had their bags checked by police before being allowed to continue on their way. 

The Australian Federal Police claimed the security check was ‘normal operational activity’.

An AFP spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia: ‘The AFP can confirm it is conducting normal operational activity at Gold Coast Airport today, including the use of firearm and explosive detection dogs as part of the standard security presence provided by the AFP at airports around Australia.’

It comes as day one of the festival, held at the North Byron Parklands, was cancelled due to poor weather. 

This incident at the airport sparked mixed reactions.

‘If they did this on a normal flight the older people would lose their minds and rightly so. No one should be treated like a criminal when they are a paying customer,’ one man said. 

‘There is a difference in going over bags through supply chains, compared to detaining everyone. That is a presumption of guilt. It is wrong in so many ways,’ another commented. 

However another stated: ‘Sniffer dogs have been part of airports in Australia for a long time and if stopping one trafficker on their way to Splendour is the result then good.’

A fourth person expressed: ‘What’s the problem, if you’re not carrying drugs…the dog will walk past you…simple.’

The first day of Splendour in the Grass was heavily impacted by the wild weather hitting the Sunshine State on Friday (pictured)

The first day of the three-day festival was heavily impacted by the wild weather, with event organisers being forced to issue a statement to all attendees on Facebook. 

‘A significant weather system is currently sitting off the east coast and may reach land today bringing more rainfall,’ organisers said.

‘In the interest of patron safety and in consultation with all relevant emergency services, we have decided to err on the side of caution and cancel performances on the main stages today only – Amphitheatre, Mix Up, GW McLennan and Park(lands) Stages.

Organisers of Splendour in the Grass were forced to issue a statement on Facebook (pictured) to all attendees as a result of the wild weather 

Police were out and about ensuring no drugs were brought into the festival 

‘All our destination spaces (Global Village, Tipi Forest, Forum, Comedy and Science tents etc.) will remain open today for patrons who are already onsite as well as those at our satellite campground at Byron Events Farm. Please relax and enjoy what is open.

‘Day patrons are asked not to attend the festival today while we work on repairs.

‘In the coming week Moshtix will be in contact with the ticket holders affected directly, via the email address used to purchase their ticket, for further information on refunds.

‘We ask for patience while we work through the refund process.

‘Please be assured that our event team is working very hard to provide the best experience possible under the current circumstances.

‘We look forward to Saturday and Sunday programming moving ahead as planned.’ 

Many people tried to make the most of the horrible conditions 

Most of the ground had turned to slosh in a short period of time, forcing attendees to get a bit dirty