(Bloomberg) -- New Zealand police forcibly ejected an anti-mandate protest from the grounds of parliament in Wellington amid a series of violent clashes with demonstrators. Fires erupted as the occupiers retreated.
Protesters engaged with police near parliament's main gates, hurling cobblestones torn up from the footpath at officers with riot shields. Police are using fire hoses to push back the demonstrators.
“It was an attack on our frontline police, it was an attack on our parliament, it was an attack on our values, and it was wrong,” Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told reporters. “Parliament grounds have been desecrated.”
The police operation brings to a head a 23-day occupation, which began as a protest against Covid vaccine mandates and other restrictions but grew as other causes joined in. Protesters have frustrated the government and annoyed Wellingtonians as they blocked streets with their cars and campervans and turned parliament grounds and surrounding areas into a tent village complete with food, massage stalls and yoga tents.
Eventually police decided to end the protest as it emerged that many remaining in the protest camp seemed set on violence, Police Commissioner Andrew Coster told a news conference earlier Wednesday.
“We have observed an escalation in concerning behavior which has ultimately resulted in today's action,” he said. “The harm being done far outweighs any legitimate protest. The balance has tipped and it is time to bring this to an end.”
Police began their biggest effort yet to bring an end to the protest with a pre-dawn operation involving hundreds of officers. As they began to tow vehicles and remove tents from streets surrounding parliament buildings, they clashed with demonstrators, hauling some away in handcuffs.
After a stand-off for several hours, police moved from the street surrounding parliament onto the grounds intent on removing the occupation camp. Again there were clashes with protesters who hurled objects at the advancing officers.
A number of fires erupted, with protesters fueling them by throwing mattresses, tents and placards onto the flames. One blaze engulfed a slide and children's playground on parliament grounds.
Police said they have made 65 arrests so far and are intent on ending the protest.
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