Commissioner Says Police Not Targeting Any Religion During Protest Response

New South Wales (NSW) Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon has defended his police response during recent protests against Israel’s President Isaac Herzog’s visit to Australia.

“When a large group got together on George Street and decided to march, despite clear directions that they were to disperse and not to march, and they became aggressive and violent towards police, police had to make an operational decision,” Lanyon told ABC radio on Feb. 12.

Lanyon also explained that police’s action did not mean to cause offense to any religion or religious process.

“This was not targeting any religion. I have apologised for an offence taken for interfering with that religious process, but it needs to be taken in context that we were moving a violent and aggressive crowd,” he said.

Protests Turn Violent in Sydney

On Feb. 9, thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered in the centre of Sydney to protest Herzog’s visit to Australia.

Under new emergency laws restricting public demonstrations following the Bondi Beach terror attack on Dec. 14, 2025, police did not authorise a planned march, instead limiting the event to a static protest.

When the event concluded, some demonstrators could not leave as police moved to stop the group from marching.

As police approached protesters, confrontations broke out, resulting in five hospitalisations, 27 arrests and nine charges.

Videos circulating online showed altercations between police and demonstrators, with some showing protesters being capsicum-sprayed, others beaten and pushed.

Police were also seen dispersing a group of Muslims who decided to start praying outside Sydney’s Town Hall building.

Condemnations from Muslim Groups and Others

Following the incident, the Australian National Imams Council (ANIC) released a public statement, saying the actions were “shocking, deeply disturbing, and entirely unacceptable.”

“Police are entrusted to protect the community, uphold public safety, and de-escalate tensions, not to interfere with religious worship or inflame an already sensitive situation,” it said on social media.

Greens MP Abigail Boyd, who attended the protest and was shoved by police, said she was considering all options, including legal action against the police.

Premier Backs Police Action

Meanwhile, Minns stood by the actions taken by police, saying criticism was unfounded. He reiterated that prior warning had been given about protest restrictions.

The premier previously told Nine News that the police had “begged” protest organisers to hold their demonstration in Hyde Park, where “it was safe and a march could take place.”

He said it would have been devastating if protesters had breached police lines and “ran amuck” in Sydney.

Later, Minns noted that the police were left with a “very difficult situation.”

“I don’t believe they intended to cause offence,” he said in comment obtained by AAP.

“I genuinely believe NSW Police, their leadership, their regular officers, would never, ever have disrupted a prayer service.”

Despite this, Minns is facing growing pressure for an independent inquiry into how the protest was handled.