An Aussie protester was filmed screaming support for three different terrorist organisations at an ‘anti-war’ demonstration on the streets of Melbourne.
The man, who was waving a Hamas flag, was one of the 1,200 demonstrators who descended on the Land Forces 2024 weapons expo at Melbourne Convention Centre on Wednesday morning.
Dressed in a hoodie, sunglasses and a cap, he was filmed shouting: ‘Hamas, Houthi, Hezbollah! Mashallah, Mashallah!’, the latter phrase meaning ‘God has willed it’ in Arabic.
All three groups – Hamas, Houthi and Hezbollah – are listed as terrorist organisations by the Australian government.
Hamas, which controls the Gaza strip, was first listed in March 2022 and is described as a ‘an ideologically and religiously-motivated violent extremist organisation’.
‘Houthi’, which is officially known as the Ansar Allah movement, is an Islamic extremist faction in Yemen, while Hezbollah is an Iran-backed political party and paramilitary group in Lebanon.
The protester was also wearing a t-shirt with a black-and-white picture of Ayatollah Khomeini, the former Supreme Leader of Iran.
Khomeini founded the Islamic Republic of Iran, a bloody coup that saw thousands of political prisoners killed.
The man (pictured), who was waving a Hamas flag, was one of the 1,200 demonstrators who descended on the Land Forces 2024 weapons expo at Melbourne Convention Centre on Wednesday morning
He was also wearing a t-shirt with a black-and-white picture of Ayatollah Khomeini, the former Supreme Leader of Iran
In 1988, Khomeini infamously issued a fatwa ordering Muslims around the world to kill British novelist Salman Rushdie following the publication of his book Satanic Verses.
The Booker-prize-winning novelist lost an eye after an audience member at a lecture ran on to the stage and stabbed him 15 times in 2022.
US-Lebanese dual citizen Hadi Matar, who was aged 24 at the time of the attack, is awaiting trial for attempted murder.
The protester at the Melbourne anti-war rally also appeared in another video where he repeated his terrorist-sympathising chants.
In the footage, he then walked up to the camera and leered: ‘What are you scared of bro, huh?’ in a distinct Australian accent.
It comes as another protester was heavily criticised for dressing in an Australian Air Force cadets uniform while wearing clown make-up.
The woman, who calls herself Nikki on social media, was filmed in the background of a live news segment, staring down the camera lens while nonchalantly eating a croissant.
Her cadet uniform was adorned with a badge that read ‘Zionism is terrorism’.
At one stage, she rushed up to Sky News reporter Georgie Dickerson where she screamed: ‘You are complicit in genocide!’
Her appearance in an Australian Air Force Cadets uniform sparked fury, with online commentators calling for her to be immediately kicked out of the youth military program.
‘This is absolutely appalling! The behaviour on display is utterly unacceptable and deeply concerning,’ seethed one person.
The scenes at Wednesday’s protests quickly turned ugly, with some describing them as the worst riots in living memory
. Demonstrators set fire to bins and hurled horse manure, rocks, rotten apples and even acid at police in the violent protest
‘Is this truly the standard of individuals the ADF is recruiting? It’s a disheartening reflection on our armed forces and a sad day for all Australians when this is the calibre of those entrusted with defending our nation.
‘This kind of conduct brings shame to an institution meant to uphold the highest standards of integrity and professionalism.’
When approached for comment by Daily Mail Australia, Nikki denied being a cadet before issuing a foul-mouthed response.
‘F*** Israel, f*** the news, f*** the system, f*** cadets, f*** the ADF,’ she wrote, followed by a loveheart emoji.
The scenes at Wednesday’s protests quickly turned ugly, with some describing them as the worst riots in living memory.
Demonstrators set fire to bins and hurled horse manure, rocks, rotten apples and even acid at police in the violent protest.
Riot cops returned fire with rubber bullets and capsicum spray in response.
This woman’s appearance in an Australian Air Force Cadets uniform sparked fury, with online commentators calling for her to be immediately kicked out of the youth military program
Two dozen officers required medical treatment, while 33 protesters were arrested for various offences, including arson and assaulting police.
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton lashed out at protesters, labelling them ‘hypocrites’ and claiming police showed ‘restraint’ in dealing with them.
Commissioner Patton said many of the protesters were intent on causing violence, despite it being an anti-war demonstration.
‘They were standing there in full-face balaclavas with ski masks on. There was no snow there,’ he said.
He said that balloons were hurled at cops containing diluted acid, leaving some officers with rashes.
‘One was hit with a beer bottle. One had a full can of baked beans thrown at them. It was appalling behaviour,’ he said.
Commisioner Patton defended the actions of his officers and rubbished calls for an independent inquiry into their behaviour.
On Thursday morning, the protests continued with two ABC security guards seen brawling with aggressive demonstrators live on air.
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk