Young woman cements herself to a car during third and final day of anti-war protests in Melbourne

A young woman has been arrested by police after she cemented her arm to the back of a car during the final day of anti-war protests in Melbourne. 

The activist is understood to have stopped a vehicle on the bridge near the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre at about 7.30am on Friday. 

It’s believed she then opened the boot, put her own hand into a bag of concrete and proceeded to cemented her arm to the car. 

Traffic was brought to a standstill as surrounding drivers were forced to stop. 

Police were seen using bolt-cutters and a chisel to detach the woman’s concrete-encased hand from the boot of the car. 

There have been up to 50 arrests over the last three days of protests in Melbourne’s CBD with police prepared for more potential violence. 

Rally organisers are expecting ‘significant protest activity’ on Friday as the Land Forces weapons expo winds down in Melbourne following days of unrest.

‘There will be renewed vigour to protest because it’s the last day,’ organiser Caroline Da Silva said.

Traffic was brought to a standstill as the police operation ensued on Friday

Police were forced to de-tach her arm from the vehicle using a chisel and bolt-cutters

‘It’s our last chance to show these weapons companies that they’re not welcome here.’

The first day of the expo on Wednesday erupted in violence and chaos as wheelie bins were set alight and horse manure, food-grade acid and glass bottle ‘missiles’ were launched at police barricades.

Riot officers returned fire on the 1500 demonstrators with rubber bullets, tear gas and flash-bang devices, leading to 42 people being arrested.

But scenes were more subdued on Thursday as a few hundred protesters marched towards the convention centre before dispersing.

They later re-grouped outside the Bourke St offices of defence contractors Hanwha Defence and Elbit Systems to oppose deals between the companies and governments, blocking access to cars and trams.

Protesters say weapons on display inside the expo have been used on civilians in the Gaza conflict. 

Police and political leaders condemned the ‘disgraceful’ actions and tactics used by activists

Protesters set a wooden palette on fire during the protests on Wednesday

Police and political leaders condemned the ‘disgraceful’ actions and tactics used by activists, labelling them ‘thugs’.

Police Commissioner Shane Patton lashed out at ‘hypocritical’ protesters, warning the largest deployment of officers in two decades would be prepared for any event for the duration of the conference.

Patton’s denunciations have not deterred activists, with Da Silva vowing the demonstrators were ‘here for the long haul’.

‘A bit of police spray, some rubber bullets — those things are harmful but they don’t do anything to alter our conscience,’ she said.

‘We’re here because we are people of goodwill and good spirit who want to see peace, justice and freedom — so there’s nothing that police violence can do to change that.’