Final day of weapons expo to bring in more protests in Melbourne

Dozens of people were arrested and multiple police officers injured in heated confrontations outside the Land Forces International Land Defence Exposition at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on Wednesday.

Accusations of causing the violence have been traded by both sides, with police alleging some protesters came armed and attacked officers with everything from bottles to faeces.

Protesters, meanwhile, claim the police started the violence by attacking the crowd and used excessive force.

Officers were observed using capsicum spray and non-lethal rounds on some protesters.

The follow-up protests yesterday were much more peaceful.

Police arrested five people, making use of expanded search powers to find some attendees had brought bags of small rocks and marbles.

The marbles, police claim, could have been rolled under the hooves of police horses to unsettle them.

An expanded exclusion zone has been set up around the convention centre again today, to prevent protesters approaching.

The expo will end after today.