Australia - Sydney's Bra Boys in Bali memorial blow-up
Sydney's Bra Boys in Bali memorial blow-up
UP to 40 police and the riot squad were called to a Bali bombing memorial in Sydney when notorious Bra Boys gang members turned up.
Up to 300 people had gathered at Cromwell Park, alongside Malabar Beach, about 1pm (AEDT) yesterday for the annual picnic event to remember the 10 victims from the Eastern Suburbs community who died in the 2002 attack.
But when members of the Bra Boys arrived about 4pm, police responded with a strong presence.
The group of men associated with the gang is understood to have gathered on a hill alongside the park, separate from the rest of the mourners.
Police circled the park after reports of verbal threats from members of the community. Four ambulances were also placed on standby.
"A number of people contacted Eastern Beaches police providing information about a verbal confrontation between members of the group," Inspector Robert Creamer said.
But angry and emotional locals say the police presence was heavy-handed and intimidating, ruining what they described as a "family day".
Mick Buchan, who lost four family members in the Bali attack, said he was "disgusted" by the police conduct.
"This has been an absolute disgrace,'' he said.
After a three-hour stand-off, 15 police formed a line, moving down the hill to disperse the crowd
Tracey North, who lost six friends in the attack, said the Bra Boys were at the memorial to join the grieving families.
"They were here to pay their respects," she said.
"We all lost close friends in the attack, so did some of those boys,
"They were sitting on the hill, they weren't causing any trouble.
"For the police to come down here on a family day like this is disgusting."
A spokesman said police on scene requested further assistance due to fears the incident could escalate.
Other memorials were held across Australia and in Indonesia yesterday.
