Residents of the street had been told that police were searching for an "armed member of a Lebanese gang", while in pursuit of a stolen vehicle linked to a violent home invasion and car-jacking in Brighton East on May 5. Mr Dimopoulos' housemate, prominent gay writer and activist Crusader Hillis, said his friend was left "screaming and crying in pain" on the road, with police repeatedly failing to identify themselves. "By the time I got there, he was bunched into the gutter with hands in plastic restraints. There were several armed police around him, some dressed in riot gear and semi-automatic weapons," Mr Hillis said. Police Minister Lisa Neville has demanded a "full explanation". Minister for Equality Martin Foley took to Twitter to say he was "deeply shocked and distressed" at the attack on "well known and respected members of the LGBTIQ community". The Hares & Hyenas shopfront has been an important gay community hub for almost 30 years.

Fitzroy bookshop, Hares & Hyenas Credit:Chris Hopkins It is understood Mr Dimopoulos fled the apartment thinking he was the target of a hate crime. The Age can also reveal that critical incident response team members were left frantically searching for "a magazine of live ammunition" that was dropped during the botched raid - while Mr Dimopoulos waited more than 20 minutes for an ambulance to arrive. The role of the team in the incident is likely to be scrutinised, especially in light of its involvement in several other high-profile incidents.

In 2017 the unit was criticised over the shooting of a couple at a CBD nightclub in another case of mistaken identity, while previously the unit refused requests to apprehend James Gargasoulas more than eight hours before his murderous Bourke Street rampage. Nik Dimopoulos rushed out the door, downstairs and on to the street where he was forcefully detained The issue of police brutality has been the spotlight several times in the past few years, including as the case of the Indigenous teenager hospitalised during a wrongful arrest in Heidelberg in 2016, the three police officers fighting charges of unlawfully assaulting a disability pensioner in 2017, and a senior constable sentenced to a year in jail for punching a teenage boy in 2014 while attempting to arrest him. The Court of Appeal overturned the officer's convictions last week. Jeremy King, of Robinson Gill Lawyers, said his clients wanted police to be held accountable for the mistaken arrest.

"These completely innocent people are understandably deeply traumatised by these events and their significant injuries," Mr King told The Age. "They are currently considering their legal options. We will not let this matter rest until those involved have been held accountable." Nik Dimopoulos Known as a pioneer of Melbourne's gay dance party scene, Mr Dimopoulos staged regular events in Melbourne, Sydney and London. He was due to host an event in Britain on May 25. A close friend of Mr Dimopoulos said she was baffled by what had occurred at her friend's home.

"I don't understand how you could confuse Nik with a member of a Lebanese gang,'' she said. ''He's one of the least intimidating people I've ever met and would never hurt a fly. He would have been terrified." Photo shows the laneway behind Hares where police forced entry. Credit:Scott McNaughton Ms Neville confirmed the matter would be subject to a full investigation. "This will be crucial to understand how this has occurred and ensure it doesn't happen again,” she said.

On Saturday, Victoria Police confirmed the man had been mistakenly arrested by specialist police after they tracked a stolen car to Fitzroy. Multiple specialist units, including the dog squad and air wing, began to search properties around Johnston Street when a male "fitting a description given to members" was seen at an address before 2.30am, they said. "Victoria Police acknowledge the distress this situation has caused the victim and the incident will be thoroughly investigated by Professional Standards Command." Premier Daniel Andrews said the government would do whatever was required to assist Mr Dimopoulos. “We will look very close at what has happened and how it could be that what has occurred could come to pass," Mr Andrews said.

A spokesman for the Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby, Dale Park, said a full investigation should also examine whether police were aware the building was a prominent LGBTI venue. "I hope that it isn't anything to do with that ... Victoria Police have done a lot of work to upskill their officers to deal with members of our community," he said. ''We don't want that work to be undermined by an incident like this, and how they respond to this will be absolutely crucial to regaining the trust of the community." Victorian Commissioner for Gender and Sexuality, Ro Allen, said Mr Dimopoulos and the book store owners were "extremely important" to Melbourne's LGBTIQ community. “I am appalled at what has happened. These men are Victorian LGBTIQ royalty and my heart is broken."