Fresh footage of Sydney 'Invasion Day' protest scuffle emerges

New footage of a scuffle between police and protesters at a Sydney 'Invasion Day' rally has emerged, showing the moment a protester allegedly tried to ignite an Australian flag.

Protesters seen during Sydney's "Invasion Day" march in Redfern

A heated scuffle has erupted between police and protesters at Sydney's "Invasion Day" march. (AAP) Source: AAP

New South Wales Police have refused to comment on accusations officers used excessive force at an 'Invasion Day' rally.

Fresh vision has emerged showing a clash between police and protesters near Sydney's Central Station on January 26.

In a video posted on social media, protester Birrugan Dunn-Velasco can be seen spraying accelerant onto an Australian flag on the ground.



Before he allegedly tried to ignite the flag, police officers broke through the crowd and began spraying what appeared to be a fire extinguisher.

During a brief struggle an officer injured his ankle and a woman sustained a head injury.

Police say Mr Dunn-Velasco has been charged with assaulting police, resisting arrest and malicious damage.

A police spokesperson said no comment would be made on the matter which is now before the courts.

On social media, Mr Dunn-Velasco wrote: "The cops clearly premeditated this in my opinion, but what can we expect from such murderous fiends?

"(One) woman has been hospitalised with broken ribs and (one) arrest," he said. "Clearly an over-excessive use of force."
Meanwhile, Queensland Police have said they're still investigating the spray painting of a Brisbane train carriage with an image of the Aboriginal flag yesterday.

Police say a group of people descended on the train at Dutton Park Station, south of central Brisbane, just before 6am and jammed the carriage doors, preventing the train from leaving the platform.

The group then used spray paint to graffiti the Aboriginal flag down one side, along with the words "One Mob".
The spray painted Brisbane train
The spray painted Brisbane train, posted by @vandals_123. Source: Instagram
Police were called to the station but by the time they arrived, the group had fled.

It's believed the act was carried out to protest Australia Day.

Share
2 min read

Published

Updated

By Darren Mara


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world