Two demonstrators have been charged with animal cruelty after allegedly attacking police horses during Saturday s violent anti-lockdown protests.
The despicable moment a maskless rioter allegedly punched a horse named Tobruk was caught on camera and prompted an immediate investigation, with authorities putting a public call out online to help track down the person involved.
But there were several other incidents throughout the day in which other officers on horseback were pelted with rocks and pot plants as the riots got out of hand.
On Sunday, 33-year-old Kristian Polkownik and 36-year-old Remon Korkise will face Parramatta Local Court for their treatment of animals during the demonstration.
As a result of inquiries, investigators attended a unit on Marlborough Street, Surry Hills, about 11.20pm (local time) on Saturday, and arrested a 33-year-old man. He was taken to Kings Cross Police Station and 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.
Brook Mitchell/Sydney Morning Herald
A man punches a police horse during the anti-lockdown rally in Sydney on Saturday. Both men were refused bail and were to appear at Parramatta Local Court on Sunday. 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.
Overnight, 5,500 people have provided evidence to the NSW Police through Crime Stoppers. So, that s a great start to Taskforce Seasoned. My appeal to everybody who has information: please don t give up.
Thousands of people descended on Sydney s CBD yesterday to protest against COVID-19vaccinations and the state s lockdown laws.
Marchers started at Victoria Park, Camperdown, where police tried to contain the crowds, but were soon outnumbered.
The group soon left the park and made their way up George St, where the situation quickly unravelled and turned violent.
READ MORE:
Anti-lockdown protest on 24 July, 2021. Photo: Brook Mitchell(Brook Mitchell)
Dozens of people were witnessed assaulting officers, destroying public property, chanting anti-government sentiment and climbing onto shop awnings.
It broke my heart : NSW premier slams Sydney anti-lockdown protest as hundreds of attendees are identified sbs.com.au - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from sbs.com.au Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Wedding photographers, tradies, serial rabble-rousers and even a Sky News pundit and wannabe MP are among those charged over Sydney s lockdown protest.
On Sunday, 21 men faced Parramatta Local Court for various crimes allegedly committed at the rally - which descended into rioting by early afternoon.
They include the man allegedly seen punching a police horse in the mouth in photos from the thick of the crowd that shocked Australia.
Most other charges are for assaulting police, resisting arrest, and breaching public health orders by being there in the first place.
One of the more well-known faces charged by police is TikTok star Jon-Bernard Kairouz, 24, who spoke at the protest and took videos before removing them from his social media page.