Strike force tracks down Sydney demonstrators

Fifty-seven people have been charged, including two men for allegedly striking a police horse, following an anti-lockdown protest that shut down Sydney on Saturday.

NSW Police have set up a strike force comprising 22 detectives to track down more than 3500 protesters who breached coronavirus restrictions and marched through Sydney’s CBD to protest widespread lockdowns. Ninety fines have already been issued.

Yesterday, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian censured the thousands of anti-lockdown protesters who took to the city streets on Saturday.

‘‘Can I say how absolutely disgusted I was. It broke my heart,’’ she said. ‘‘Millions and millions of people across our state are doing the right thing and it just broke my heart that people had such a disregard for their fellow citizens.

‘‘Each of those people who protested illegally – I’m sure have loved ones. They are going to go home and risk passing that virus

onto the most closest people to them.’’

During the operation, officers were assaulted and police horses were struck and pushed.

Following the protest, Strike Force Seasoned was established to investigate persons who committed offences associated with the unauthorised protest and breach of Public Health Orders.

As a result of inquiries, investigators arrested Kristian

Pulkownik. The 33-year-old was pictured allegedly pushing a horse during Saturday’s events.

He was charged with affray, joining or continuing in an unlawful assembly, committing an act of cruelty upon an animal and not complying with a noticed direction in relation to Covid-19.

Remon Korkise, 36, was arrested and charged with assaulting an officer in execution of duty, committing an act of

cruelty upon an animal and not complying with a noticed direction in relation to Covid-19. Both men were refused bail.

Police charged 57 people and issued 90 fines after crowds clashed with dozens of officers as demonstrations converged on major cities across Australia on Saturday.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has described protests in Melbourne and Sydney against lockdown laws as ‘‘stupidity writ-large’’.

Sydney Morning Herald photographer Brook Mitchell documented the march and said the estimate of 3500 protesters seemed ‘‘very conservative’’ and there appeared to be thousands more.

He was shoved to the ground and misted with pepper spray as protesters clashed with police.

‘‘In all the years I’ve been covering protests in Sydney and other places, this was definitely the most violent,’’ he said.

On Saturday night, police took to social media to provide an update about the horse one of the men allegedly struck.

‘‘Our beautiful brave Tobruk safe and uninjured after his awful

encounter today. Thank you again everyone for your words of support,’’ the post said.

■ NSW has recorded 141 new locally acquired cases of Covid-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm on Saturday, and two women have died, including a woman in her late 30s with no pre-existing conditions, Premier Gladys Berejiklian said.

Thirty-eight cases were infectious in the community, and the isolation status of 14 cases remains under investigation. Of the total cases, 87 are linked to a known case or cluster – 71 are household contacts and 16 are close contacts – and the source of infection for 54 cases is under investigation.

The woman in her 30s is the youngest Covid-19 death recorded in NSW during the pandemic and the eighth death linked to the current outbreak.

‘‘If anybody thinks this is a disease just affecting older people, please think again,’’ Berejiklian said yesterday. ‘‘I want to extend my heartfelt condolences to those families, their loved ones who are grieving today, but please note that younger people without preexisting conditions can also fall victim to this cruel disease.’’