Police intervene in confrontations between attendees and protesters led by Campaign Against Racism and Fascism

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

Five people have been arrested in a protest outside a Melbourne hotel against a speaking tour by the conservative UK politician Nigel Farage.

About 200 demonstrators gathered outside the Sofitel on Collins Street on Friday night, where the former Ukip leader gave his last speech of a five-day Australian tour.

Five people were arrested, one for criminal damage, another for riotous behaviour and a third for covering their face and assaulting police. Two others, a man and a woman, were arrested for unrelated outstanding matters, police said.

At least 100 officers were present and intervened in confrontations between attendees and protesters, led by the Campaign Against Racism and Fascism.

The anti-feminist blogger Andrew Nolch, who on Thursday pleaded guilty to defacing a Princes Park memorial to murdered comedian Eurydice Dixon, attended Farage’s event.

The convicted criminal and far-right activist Neil Erikson was also seen entering.

The Sofitel would not confirm the number of attendees, but only one of the hotel’s conference rooms has a capacity of over 300. A spokeswoman for the Sofitel would not confirm which room Farage’s event was held in.

Earlier in the week, Farage had been forced to move the location of his Sydney talk to a smaller venue.

His promoter had initially booked the 2,500 seat International Conference Centre but the event was cancelled and Farage instead spoke at Doltone House in Pyrmont, where a spokesman said 1,000 people attended, and reporters estimated the same.

Zoya Sheftalovich (@zoyashef) I was told a thousand, which seems about right.

Sir Hornbag (@hornery) Not much of a showing for Farage talk tonight in Sydney - nearly as many police as punters! pic.twitter.com/9LfcQmsE6U

The convention centre claimed that the promoter had “not met the terms of their hiring agreement” but the promoter said “disagreement over costs” and “security issues” were the reasons for the move.

At the start of his tour, Farage spoke to 350 people in Perth, where protesters heckled attendees and called them “Nazi scum”.