Tense anti-immigration protests across Australia leave police injured

Thousands of people took part in anti-immigration rallies across Australia on Sunday, with tense confrontations in Melbourne leaving two police officers hospitalised and one woman in custody as police sought to separate rival demonstrators in the central business district. Marches under the banner March for Australia drew smaller crowds than a similar event in August, while counterprotests supporting migrants and refugees were held in capital cities including Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide.

In Melbourne, hundreds of police were deployed as opposing groups gathered around Parliament House and along Swanston Street. Commander Wayne Cheesman said officers were struck by bluestone rocks, rotten fruit and bottles containing glass shards. Two officers were taken to hospital, one with a suspected broken hand and another with a non-life-threatening leg cut, and three other officers were hit by projectiles but not seriously injured. Riot police used flash bangs, rubber bullets and capsicum spray as they moved to hold the lines, and a 30-year-old woman was arrested at the rally.

Counterprotesters marched from Camp Sovereignty in Kings Domain to the State...