Ugly brawls erupt after anti-immigration protest

Violent incidents broke out in Sydney following Sunday’s anti-immigration protest. Two men have been charged over the alleged assault of a police officer in an inner city pub, and a brawl was caught on video at Redfern train station.

Police rushed to Bar Broadway in Chippendale about 5.40pm, amid reports that a brawl had broken out in response to a group of pub goers who were offensively yelling at passers-by, and loudly singing the national anthem.

While dispersing the group, a male constable was allegedly assaulted by 48-year-old Matthew Smith. Attempts by three officers to arrest Smith were thwarted when another man, 29-year-old Sean Raics, allegedly attacked the same officer.

Police believe the pair had earlier attended an anti-immigration rally where 15,000 people marched from Sydney’s CBD to Victoria Park in Camperdown.

Raics had been playing pool when police arrived, allegedly wielding his cue at a male officer before using his hands to shove him.

Both men displayed signs of intoxication, with Raics taking his shirt off as he interacted with the police.

Footage from inside the pub shows men draped in Australian flags watching on as the scuffle unfolds. The officer sustained minor injuries.

Capsicum spray was then deployed as another scuffle unfolded on the footpath while several officers and a security guard pinned Raics to the ground.

Raics allegedly managed to break free and made a run for it, but didn’t make it far. After crossing Broadway, he ran about 300 metres before he was apprehended.

The men were both charged with affray, assaulting a police officer in execution of duty without actual bodily harm and hindering a police officer in the execution of duty.

Both men were released on conditional bail on Monday.

Elsewhere, Nine News obtained vision of a fight between two men on a train at Redfern Station. In the footage, a man standing on the platform draped in an Australian flag uses a Eureka Stockade flag to jab a man standing just inside a stationary carriage.

Sydney’s march was one of several held across the country. Seven people were arrested in Melbourne after violence broke out between protesters and counter-protesters.

Only one arrest was made in Sydney during a busy day for police that included the Sydney Marathon, the anti-immigration protest and a pro-Palestine march all taking place concurrently.

A woman who allegedly shouted abuse at the pro-Palestine march in Hyde Park was charged with breaching the peace.

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