New Zealand police have accused anti-vaccine protesters set up around the Houses of Parliament in Wellington of throwing human excrement on Monday at law enforcement who were carrying out a pre-dawn operation to set up roadblocks around the encampment.
Two weeks after the start of their action, inspired by the Canadian “freedom convoys”, the demonstrators continued to arrive this weekend despite calls from the police urging them to leave.
The number of vehicles blocking downtown streets has nearly doubled since Friday, to 800 on Monday.
In order to prevent any further expansion, around 300 police were deployed overnight from Sunday to Monday to allow the installation of concrete blockades in the main streets.
According to the police, “a large number of very loud protesters were present” and eight arrests were made.
“Seven police officers were injured during this operation, ranging from simple scratches to an ankle injury,” she said in a statement.
“Some also received jets of human excrement.”
Police said they will “hold to account” those responsible for the movement, pointing out that attempting to deliberately infect someone is punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
So far, the police have intervened little against this demonstration, believing that any attempt to use force to evacuate the camp would lead to violence.
“Police are expected to use batons and possibly tear gas to drive the crowd out of the Parliament Buildings which is likely to lead to a lengthy confrontation,” Commissioner Andrew Coster told TVNZ television on Sunday.
Coster also said he was in contact with authorities in Ottawa, where police regained control this weekend after 24 days of protests.
The New Zealand movement was initially anti-vaccine but as it gained momentum, its demands became more numerous. Some demonstrators displayed their affiliation to the extreme right, chanting messages against the government and the media.
Wellington residents said they were molested for wearing masks. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern condemned the “bullying and harassment” against them.
“The protesters have made their point, it’s time for them to leave,” she told reporters, claiming to rule out a lifting of anti-COVID health measures under pressure from protesters.
New Zealand, which has a population of five million, has recorded 53 deaths from the coronavirus since the start of the pandemic. On Monday, 2,377 new cases were identified.