Melbourne protest LIVE updates: Anti-war demonstrators clash with police and reporters in fiery scenes

Several protesters were seen grappling with the reins of police horses to allow other demonstrators to break the police lines.

One man, with a long mullet and wearing sunglasses, could be seen repeatedly grabbing at a bridle before he tried to snatch a horse hwhipe out of a mounted officer’s hands.

Another disturbing video shows demonstrators throwing what appeared to be horse faeces at a group of mounted police.

Officers were seen with faeces stuck to their helmets and uniforms as they attempted to control the crowd, with some officers using capsicum spray.

Deputy Opposition leader Sussan Ley has blasted protesters, claimng they ‘need to get a job’.

Ms Ley (pictured, below) praised the efforts of police who were working to control the demonstrators.

‘My thoughts are for law enforcement when confronted with these large numbers, and our police and the people who keep us safe are diverted from all of the things they need to be doing to address this sort of nonsense,’ she said.

‘It’s like we have the same crowd every single time we have one of these protests. I stand with our defence industries every single day of the week, and I know that Australians absolutely do so as well.’

Over 1,800 police, including mounted officers, are struggling to contain thousands of anti-war protesters blocking Melbourne’s busiest intersection.

Detectives had to be drafted in to bolster police numbers as demosntrators turned violent outside the Land Forces Defence Expo.

James Conlon, a former Melbourne councillor, claimed that ‘thousands of protesters just broke the pathetic police line of horses’.

‘We’re now blocking the intersection with the West Gate Bridge, the busiest intersection in Melbourne,’ he posted on X.

A group of protesters were filmed throwing horse poo at police officers as they tried to control a record-breaking crowd.

Victoria Police officers expected some 25,000 people to attend an anti-war march in Melbourne ahead of the Land Forces Defence Expo this week.

Deputy Opposition leader Sussan Ley slammed the planned action, saying those involved ‘need to get a job’.