Seven Australians, who police alleged are part of the environmental action group Blockade Australia, are facing charges, including allegedly assaulting police, after a raid on a rural property northwest of Sydney where police believe unauthorised protests were being planned.
New South Wales (NSW) Police said when they arrived at a property in Colo about 8.30 a.m. on Sunday, they were allegedly surrounded by a group of individuals that included two women and five men and the tyres of an unmarked police vehicle were damaged, rendering it undrivable.
State Police Minister Paul Toole alleged the activists were operating a training camp and were seeking to bring Sydney to a standstill next week.
He also said that NSW police officers feared for their lives in the confrontation and called for back-up from PolAir, the Dog Unit, the Public Order and Riot Squad, Police Rescue, the Raptor Squad and the Operations Support Group.
“They feared for their life because these extreme protesters surrounded them, they pushed them and they even slashed or let down the tyres of a police vehicle,” he told Sydney radio 2GB on Monday.
The group of about 30 individuals were using the rural property as a training camp for more climate protests in Sydney, Toole said.
“I’m absolutely furious about the way these protesters think they can shut down Sydney for a whole week,” he said.
NSW Police established Strike Force Guard in March to prevent, investigate and disrupt unauthorised protests after activists from Blockade Australia demonstrated on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Spit Bridge and the Port of Newcastle.
The individuals aged between 20 and 35 were charged with various offences, including affray, damaging property, and assaulting, intimidating and obstructing police.
All seven people were refused bail and will appear in Penrith Local Court on Monday.
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