Australia: Police riot in Sydney

A BABY left in a car while his mother ran into a south-west Sydney shop led to claims of "a riot", with one officer pulling a Taser and numerous shoppers surrounded by police cars and affected by capsicum spray.

Scores of Campsie and Bankstown police were called to Punchbowl's The Boulevard where they arrested two 20-year-old men after police clashed with shoppers on Friday afternoon.

The mother of the baby, who wants to remain anonymous, told Fairfax Media she has apologised to police for briefly leaving her sleeping one-year-old unsupervised in her car with windows wound down.

The violence was sparked by her cousin and brother clashing with police over the "10-minute indiscretion", she said.

"The first two officers were fine; it was another officer who was yelling at my brother and got into a big argument," she said. "The police officer pushed him to the ground and made an arrest."

Acting Campsie Commander Paul Albury said there was no riot and police acted professionally when coming under attack and abuse from 50 people.

"The behaviour of the main individual towards police was disgusting and inflammatory," he said. "An investigation is under way to identify and arrest a man who allegedly punched a male officer in the face," he said.

Community advocate for south-west Sydney, Rebecca Kay, has taken statements from eight people who saw the "riot" that was witnessed by up to 100 people. Those who were sprayed will make an official complaint, she said.

Ms Kay said about 10 squad cars arrived on the scene and further escalated the trouble.

"One officer pulled out his Taser," she said. "The street was closed off, there were many people sprayed with capsicum spray, mums, kids, men and women, innocent bystanders. Police sprayed everyone," she said.

"The police were saying inappropriate things, racist and anti-Islamic comments. There needs [to be] respect, this behaviour harms relations between police and the community that we are trying to build."

Ms Kay said a community meeting is being held in Punchbowl on Wednesday.

Original report here. (Via Australian police news)




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