Two persons were arrested after cops were encircled and their vehicle was damaged while investigating a radical climate activist camp north-west of Sydney.
Police were investigating ‘planned unlawful protest action’ at a Colo property in the Blue Mountains around 8.30am on Sunday when they were approached by a group of persons.
An unmarked police vehicle went to the area to assist the officers, but they were quickly surrounded by the throng, which damaged the car’s tyres and prevented it from leaving the site.
More police officers rushed to the scene, arresting two persons while the remainder of the group ran into surrounding forest.
Police said they have made numerous arrests and predict more.
‘This level of repression of the climate movement by the police is unparalleled.’
According to the organization, 100 officers and helicopters, as well as a dog squad and ‘totally militarized officers,’ encircled the wooded property and began search and seizure processes.
‘This footage [see above] appears to be pretty chill. ‘It isn’t,’ the group said on Facebook.
‘At daylight, we were encircled by men in camouflage clothes, hiding in the jungle with lots of guns.’ Then helicopters began to buzz overhead. Police cars and buses sped through the neighborhood, sirens and lights flashing.
‘Police dogs and black-clad personnel wearing body armor and full-face helmets barged into our space.’ This vast, expensive police effort is intended to deter climate activists from taking action.
‘It’s unclear what the legal basis for the raid is… There has never been any harm done to other people during these climate marches.’