After chaotic and brutal scenes at a Sydney rally opposing Israeli president Isaac Herzog’s visit, assistant police commissioner Peter McKenna accused the speakers at the rally of ‘inciting the crowd to march’.
Subscribe to Guardian Australia on YouTube and hit the bell to see new videos ► https://www.youtube.com/@guardianaustralia?sub_confirmation=1
‘It was really something that was quite inflammatory,’ he said. ‘In fact, it got to the point that I believe the crowd really took part in some type of contagion of group think.’ Asked if the protest would have been less violent had the police allowed protesters to march, he said: ‘It wasn’t a matter of us letting protesters march. There was legislation in place to say they couldn’t march’
Police use pepper spray at Sydney rally against Isaac Herzog visit, with MP alleging officers threw punches ► https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/feb/09/nsw-police-pepper-spray-protesters-at-sydney-rally-opposing-isaac-herzogs-visit
Get the latest news at theguardian.com ► https://www.theguardian.com/au?CMP=gdnaus_yt
Support Guardian Australia ► https://support.theguardian.com/contribute?CMP=gdnaus_yt
Sign up to Guardian Australia’s free daily newsletters, the Morning Mail and Afternoon Update ► https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=gdnaus_yt
Find or follow Guardian Australia:
Website ► https://theguardian.com/au?CMP=gdnaus_yt
Google News ► https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMNTrogswl_a6Aw
Instagram ► https://instagram.com/guardianaustralia
TikTok ► https://tiktok.com/@guardianaustralia
LinkedIn ► https://linkedin.com/company/guardianaustralia
Threads ► https://www.threads.net/@guardianaustralia
WhatsApp Channels ► https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaBW8Bn6hENlReOC9j0l
Facebook ► https://facebook.com/theguardianaustralia
Newsletters ► https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=gdnaus_yt
Subscribe to the Guardian’s other YouTube channels:
The Guardian ► https://www.youtube.com/@theguardian
Guardian News ► https://www.youtube.com/@guardiannews
Guardian Football ► https://www.youtube.com/@guardianfootball
Guardian Sport ► https://www.youtube.com/@guardiansport
Guardian Live ► https://www.youtube.com/@guardianlive
#sydney #newsouthwales #israel #palestine #isaacherzog #gaza #australia
