Tensions between climate change protesters and police have erupted outside a mining conference in Melbourne.

Mass arrests as riot police move in on climate protesters in Melbourne

Fifty people have been arrested as climate activists who vowed to cause “maximum disruption” with heightened tactics targeted a mining conference in the heart of Melbourne.

Two of those nabbed are accused of animal cruelty after allegedly “slapping a police horse in the face”.

News.com.au witnessed a police officer being knocked to the ground as a scuffle broke out with a protester.

He landed heavily on the pavement before fellow officers managed to restrain the protester.

An officer is tackled to the ground outside the IMARC conference in Melbourne as clashes with protesters turn increasingly ugly. @newscomauHQ pic.twitter.com/Y5De290s8m — Rohan Smith (@Ro_Smith) October 29, 2019

One female protester seemed unfazed by the use of capsicum spray and the dozens of arrests.

“We’ll be here all day and we’re willing to fight for what we believe in,” one woman said.

The activists, totalling at least 300 by 11am, were hoping to shut down the three-day International Mining and Resources Conference at the Convention Centre.

It is scheduled from today and will be attended by thousands of global delegates.

Four police officers were injured an a protester is believed to have suffered a broken leg.

“Whether she was trampled or kicked, I’m not sure,” Victoria Police acting commander Tim Tully said this afternoon.

He said the actions of officers had been “in response to the protesters’ activity and in accordance with training”.

He said he was “very disappointed” in the actions of protesters and that police were working in “very difficult and challenging circumstances ... dealing with confrontational nature of various protest groups”.

He said the “conduct of our people was appropriate”.

“It is in line with our training. There were plenty of examples today where we have shown a hell of a lot of tolerance.”

While some protesters sat quietly in the shade holding signs and drinking water, others were seen trying to run into traffic as the lights change from red to green.

Officers were forced to run after them and clear the road.

Getting nasty here with climate protesters and police clashing outside Jeff’s shed. Mounted officers now trying to split up the pack. pic.twitter.com/ngYwfYSDlR — Nathan Templeton (@nathantemp7) October 28, 2019

Protesters have now blocked the intersection at Clarendon Street. This morning’s protest is moving fast. Avoid the area, if you can. @10NewsFirstMelb pic.twitter.com/8Fjym04Qao — Jayde Cotic (@JaydeCotic) October 28, 2019

A protester told Nine the group had planned a “peaceful blockade” at the inner-city location.

“Hopefully we’ll ruin the day for a lot of mining executives,” he said.

Today reporter Izabella Staskowski said the protest had “certainly become violent”.

“There is escalating tension between this group of protesters and police,” she said.

“We have seen people pushed to the ground, seen people running into police, bashing into them.”

A group of about 100 people made their presence known outside the facility on Monday before marching up Spencer St, temporarily delaying traffic.

Police say 11 different groups plan to cause “maximum disruption” outside the conference, with protests likely to continue spilling across parts of the CBD.

More than 300 police officers will be assigned each day to ensure activists don’t break the law or adversely impact the community.

A spokeswoman for one group, IMARC Alliance, this morning told Sunrise they have three aims for the day.

“We basically want mass orientation – thousands of people if possible – to come down, blockade and to help shut down this conference,” Emma Black said.

“There’s around 28 entrances, there’s hundreds of police. It’s going to be quite difficult.

“But if we can’t shut it down, at least we can disrupt it as much as possible.”

She said their “main enemy” or enemies were the mining executives and investors “that are coming here to plot as to how to further destroy the planet”.

The Extinction Rebellion group ran a week of climate protests early in the month.

“We expect to see heightened tactics by the protest groups,” Acting Commander Tully told reporters yesterday.

“Our intelligence would suggest that the protesters have been planning, and are well co-ordinated, to undertake different tactics to what we saw, or very similar tactics to what we saw, in the recent protest activity.

“We are well prepared to respond.”

With AAP