By ABC News
Copyright abc
Police have admitted they were caught off guard by an attack on Camp Sovereignty last month as they prepare for more potential clashes between rival protest groups in Melbourne this weekend.
Several people were injured when a group of black-clad men attacked people at the First Nations camp after an anti-immigration rally in the CBD.
Seven men, including Neo-Nazi leader Thomas Sewell, have been charged with offences linked to the incident in Kings Domain on August 31.
Police are anticipating more violent clashes in Melbourne’s CBD on Saturday and believe four separate groups are planning demonstrations.
Victoria Police said the Nationalist Socialist Network is among those planning to gather in the CBD, along with other right-wing and left-wing groups.
Superintendent Troy Papworth said police will deploy more officers in the city than they did on August 31.
“Due to the violence we saw on the streets of Melbourne two weeks ago and our intelligence pointing towards these groups again intent on coming together and clashing, police have no choice but to put together a significant police response,” he said.
“We’ve got groups here who are coming together with extremist, right-wing ideology.
Victoria Police has declared a section of the city a designated area on Saturday, giving them greater powers to search people for weapons and demand protesters remove face coverings.
The designated area includes the zone bordered by Flinders Street, Spring Street, Latrobe Street and Spencer Street.
Camp Sovereignty attack blindsided police
Police would not give specific details about where they would deploy officers on Saturday, but said they had reassured Camp Sovereignty organisers that there would be no repeat of the August 31 attack.
“We want to make sure that doesn’t happen again,” Superintendent Papworth said.
“At the time, we didn’t have the intelligence to suggest there were going to be any issues at Camp Sovereignty so, at the time, police weren’t there.
Camp founder and Indigenous activist Robbie Thorpe was among those questioning the police response to the attack, asking why officers didn’t monitor the far-right group as they left the rally.
Superintendent Papworth criticised groups for using lawful protest laws as a cover for intentional clashes with opposing groups, describing it as “gutless”.
“What we’re seeing is these people using the excuse of lawful and peaceful protest to come together and commit violence against one another,” he said.
He said some demonstrators came to the event wearing motorcross armour, in preparation for violence.
Victoria Police said 20 people were arrested either on August 31, or in the days after, in relation to the protest violence.
