More than 20 activists arrested amid violent scenes, with officers accused of being ‘incredibly hostile’

This article is more than 10 months old

This article is more than 10 months old

This article is more than 10 months old

A climate protester has been taken to hospital and more than 20 others have been arrested while blockading an international mining conference in Melbourne after violent clashes erupted between the group and police.

From 6am on Tuesday, hundreds of activists from a dozen different groups began blocking entry to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

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They faced off against police officers, who say they had been forced to arrest “in excess of 20 protesters” who were blocking the disabled and wheelchair access to the building and refusing to move on.

Two people were also arrested for assaulting a police horse.

“Police continue to arrest protesters blocking access to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre,” a spokeswoman said. “Exact arrest numbers will be provided when we have them.”

One police officer received minor injuries during the arrests and was treated at the scene before being taken to hospital.

A protester was also taken to hospital in a stable condition after she was injured by a police horse.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Police use capsicum spray on the protesters. Photograph: James Ross/AAP

Callum, a protester who did not want to give his surname, said police were being “extremely violent” towards the group.

“They’ve used batons and are being aggressive,” he said. “The horses shouldn’t be here as they get extremely nervous and have hurt a woman.”

Other protesters have accused police of being aggressive, placing one man in a headlock and pushing another to the floor, as well as using capsicum spray.

“I think the police have been incredibly hostile … I’m quite shocked by how aggressive they’ve been,” a protest organiser, Emma Black told 3AW radio.

The International Mining and Resources Conference is Australia’s largest annual industry event and attracts delegates from the resources, investing and technology sectors. More than 7,000 people from nearly 100 countries are expected to attend the three-day event.

Among them is Craig Ian McGown, chairman at Pioneer Resources, who said a bottle of water had been emptied over him and he had been pushed and forced to walk 40 metres with a woman next to him shouting “shame”.

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“I’m just very confused by people having too much time off,” he said. “I’m just in attendance at the conference because my company is involved in major projects that can help the country move forward.”

Conference organisers say the protest action is based on misconceptions about the mining industry. This year the the event will consider the importance of battery minerals, used in the emerging electric car market, and the growing importance of ethical investment for resource companies.

Protesters plan to disrupt all three days of the conference and will be joined by the Victorian Greens leader, Samantha Ratnam, on Tuesday and the federal Greens MP, Adam Bandt, on Wednesday.

Despite initial concerns about traffic disruptions, VicRoads said traffic was flowing through nearby streets and trams were running.

The deputy prime minister, Michael McCormack, described the protests as “disgraceful, absolutely disgraceful”.