Australia Day celebrations turned into a nightmare for many locals and tourists at Manly Wharf, on Sydney’s northern beaches, as a wild brawl broke out between dozens of teenagers and police officers on Friday afternoon.
Witnesses captured shocking footage of the violent clash, which showed the unruly youths throwing punches, kicking, and hurling abuse at the police, who tried to disperse the crowd and restore order.
One of the videos, posted on Instagram, showed a young man being tackled to the ground by two officers, while another officer was seen spraying pepper spray at the mob.
“It was terrifying, I’ve never seen anything like it,” said Jessica, a local resident who witnessed the brawl. “They were just out of control, they had no respect for the police or anyone else.”
She said the trouble started when two rival groups of teens, who appeared to be of Pacific Islander/Māori descent, began to taunt and provoke each other near a reserve at West Esplanade.
“Then it just escalated into a full-on fight, they were using bottles, rocks, anything they could find as weapons,” she said. “Some of them had knives, I saw one guy with blood on his face.”
She said the police arrived shortly after and tried to break up the fight, but the teens resisted and attacked them.
“They were outnumbered and outmatched, they had to call for backup,” she said. “There were so many police cars, vans, even a helicopter. It was like a war zone.”
According to NSW Police, four males believed to be aged in their late teens were arrested and taken to Manly Police Station, where they are assisting police with inquiries.
One male was taken to Northern Beaches Hospital for assessment and treatment of a facial injury.
Officers from Northern Beaches Police Area Command have commenced an investigation and are appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident or has footage to contact Manly Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
The brawl has sparked outrage and condemnation from the public and politicians, who have called for tougher penalties and more education for the youth.
“This is unacceptable and disgraceful behaviour, especially on a day when we should be celebrating our nation and our values,” said Prime Minister Scott Morrison. “We will not tolerate this kind of lawlessness and violence in our society.”
He said the government would work with the state and local authorities to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice and the community is protected.
“We will also look into ways to prevent this from happening again, by providing more support and opportunities for our young people, especially those from disadvantaged and diverse backgrounds,” he said.
He urged the public to remain calm and respectful, and to enjoy the rest of the Australia Day festivities in a safe and responsible manner.