The activists chained themselves to three Thrifty rental vans in the middle of the intersection, causing traffic chaos and affecting 11 tram lines. It also forced ambulances to take different routes to five major hospitals. Having tolerated them for nearly three hours, police were forced to move in about 9.30am, arresting 39 protesters, including two 17-year-olds and a 15-year-old. The protesters are being led away one by one. Credit:Zach Hope Melborne's North West Metro region Superintendent David Clayton said the protesters’ failure to warn police beforehand was "really disappointing". Police would have urged them to "express their views peacefully, but without an impact on the broader community".

He personally believed the protestors harmed their cause by their actions, although it was "a matter for the community to determine", and acknowledged some people may have felt alarmed at the commotion given recent attacks in the CBD. One such person was city worker Dianne Delbridge, who came out of her Flinders Street office to flashing lights and police. Protesters being moved by police about 9am. Credit:Zach Hope She happened to be in hospital with a broken ankle when victims were brought into her ward from the Flinders Street attack in 2017. "The first thing your head goes to is 'has there been another terror attack'. I’m sure that’s where everyone’s head goes," she said.

"I understand why people want to protect animals – I do myself – but I don’t think it’s worth disrupting and frightening people." The vans, which had been parked in the middle of the intersection, are being towed. Credit:Zach Hope The Melbourne protest was the biggest in a wave of co-ordinated action in Victoria, Tasmania, NSW and Queensland that saw animal-rights activists raid abattoirs, meatworks and even negotiate the release of three sheep from the Carey Bros' plant in Yangan, near Toowoomba, in Queensland. At three Victorian abattoirs – MC Herd in Geelong, Westside Meats in Bacchus Marsh, and O’Connors Abattoir in Pakenham – activists drove trucks across the entrances and exits and then let down their tyres. Several activists filmed themselves blocking the entrance of Australian Food Group's pig slaughterhouse in Laverton, in Melbourne's south-west.

Nine protesters said they locked themselves onto a Goulburn slaughterhouse in NSW since 2am to shine a light on what they said was the "oxymoron of humane slaughter". They were arrested by police who had to cut them free and carry them to police cars. One Victorian protester said: "Things like this will keep happening until we see change, until ... it's a vegan world." Protesters connected outside the Melbourne Aquarium. Credit:Zach Hope But Chris Delforce, director of the Dominion film and a leader in the nationwide action, was more cirumspect about what may come next. "That's a good question," he said. "I'm not actually sure how to answer that. We're just going to keep promoting the film. We figure anyone who watches the film will understand why we did this and maybe will participate in future actions."

He said the potential to scare commuters was "absolutely on our mind", which was why, he said, protesters and vans moved slowly into the intersection and were quick to assure non-participants there was no danger. He said no-one stood to make any money out of extra film sales or online views. Protesters linked together with pipes and chains outside Melbourne Aquarium. Credit:Zach Hope "[It's] about creating conversations that need to be had that we weren't having otherwise," he said. "It's easy for the public to ignore it if it's not interrupting their day."

Prime Minister Scott Morrison lashed out at the "shameful, un-Australian" protesters and said the government was prepared to join or bankroll a civil lawsuit brought by any affected farmers against the activists. "I think state and territory governments should ensure the full force of the law is brought against these green-collared criminals," Mr Morrison said. Protesters in the middle of the Flinders and Swanston streets intersection. Credit:Zach Hope Victorian Agriculture Minister Jaclyn Symes would not be drawn on new or harsher penalties for such disruptive protests, but said she would be talking to police in coming days. "I'm outraged that you've got 12 year olds sitting in the main intersection of Melbourne under the false pretense that these people are there for a just cause," she said.