Police hunt for offenders after alleged assault on Camp Sovereignty

Victoria Police are actively investigating an alleged assault that occurred at Camp Sovereignty last night, with a 37-year-old victim suffering facial injuries. The attack, which took place at the Indigenous protest site in Melbourne's CBD, involved two individuals attempting to extinguish the campfire. Ash Ni Mara, a 37-year-old volunteer and fire protector at Camp Sovereignty, recounted the harrowing experience, stating that they were dragged six meters and held in a headlock before being released by paramedics.

The two perpetrators fled on foot before police arrived. This incident marks the second time within a year that individuals at Camp Sovereignty have been attacked. Camp Sovereignty founder Krautungalung elder Robbie Thorpe expressed deep concern over the assault, noting that the fire is an essential aspect of Aboriginal culture and a symbol of connection to ancestral spirits.

Police are considering the attack as potentially racially motivated and are searching for CCTV footage from the area to identify the offenders.