Massive Protest to Hit Ring of Steel

An army of protesters is set to cause chaos in Melbourne from today aiming to disrupt a controversial weapons expo.

Some protest activity linked to the Land Forces International Land Defence Exposition began on Saturday with hotels vandalised, traffic blocked and two ­arrests.

Ahead of what will be one of the biggest police operations in decades, Victoria Police erected a ring of steel around the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre ahead of the weapons exhibition, which is expected to attract up to 25,000 activists.

Hundreds of police began patrolling the site on Saturday and the fence – which stretched several kilometres – was covered in tarpaulins to hide the operations inside.

Protest action kicked off earlier than expected on Friday night when hotels where defence personnel were ­believed to be staying were vandalised with red paint.

At least one military tank was escorted discreetly to the site about 3am on Saturday ­before a woman caused traffic chaos on a freeway exit ramp in the afternoon.

One woman chained herself to the outside of a vehicle dumped on the Montague St exit ramp about 2pm hampering traffic. Two women were arrested at the scene.

A 27-year-old Kensington woman and a 24-year-old woman from South Australia were charged with offences including public nuisance and obstructing police, and have been bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court in November.

Police Minister Anthony Carbines said police would swiftly deal with anyone looking to cause trouble, block traffic or threaten community safety.

“If you’re coming to this event to be an idiot and cause trouble – stay away,” he said.

“Police have been granted special powers for this event and they won’t hesitate to use them to keep people safe.”

But the warning has not ­deterred activist group Disrupt Land Forces. A coalition of up to 50 activist groups, including Students for Palestine, Disrupt Wars and Weapons out of Naarm, will form the army of protesters and have a public fighting fund – said the warnings would not deter protesters.

“There will be a truth-telling ceremony, rallies, protests, motorcades, vigils and raves, all focused on bringing the public’s attention to this massive weapons sales event,” a spokeswoman said.

When asked why the group would cause so much disruption, the spokeswoman said the reason was “simple”.

“We need to stop funding the war machine,” she said. “Companies such as Elbit Systems, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Hanwha, Thales, NIOA will all be displaying their latest wares – weapons used to maim and murder people all over the globe.”

Victoria Police is bringing in more than 1200 officers from across the state this week to help protect and patrol the site.

Those officers include members of the highway patrol, public order response team, mounted branch and search and rescue squads.

Police on Saturday escorted dozens of trucks carrying shipping containers believed to contain several of the weapons on display into the site.

A beefed-up police escort ushered at least one huge military tank into the site in the dead of night. Hundreds of officers were brought in on buses and many patrolled every entry and exit point over the weekend.

Those officers have been granted extra powers to send away those who are wearing masks if they suspect they are trying not to be identified.

Using anti-terror legislation, police will also have the authority to search any person or vehicle in the marked area.

Protest groups are planning further disruptions as early as Sunday with “several creative events” scheduled, including a motorcade on Monday.

The greatest mass of protesters is not expected to gather at the site until Wednesday. Police fear it could be as large as the protest at the World Economic Forum of 2000.

More than 100 people were arrested at that major rally in scenes rarely seen in Australia at that time.

Tuesday will see a rally at the site before the 25,000-strong crowd forms a picket line on Wednesday morning.

Well-known activists, including the president of the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network Nasser Mashni, will address the crowds that morning.

Disrupt Land Forces, the driver of the protests, has also accumulated almost $20,000 in donations which will go ­towards the “week-long festival of resistance”,.

Funds raised will go ­towards essential items, transport and accommodation for those ­attending the rallies.