By PAUL MILLAR
ANTI-WAR protesters claim they were beaten and abused by troops when they breached security to enter one of Australia’s key anti-terrorism training centres at Swan Island.
Victoria Police confirmed that eight protesters were arrested between 7am and 9am on Thursday and would be charged with trespass on Commonwealth property.
One of the anti-war group, Sam Quinlan, said he was one of the demonstrators involved in the pre-dawn break in.
He was soon confronted by two soldiers, who quickly brought the Melbourne man and another trespasser to the ground.
He said they were barged to the floor, had hessian bags pulled over their heads and their pants were sliced open with knives.
The Swan Island facility is regarded as a training ground for special units, including counter-terrorism police and is used by the elite Special Air Service.
It is run by the Australian Secret Intelligence Service, the agency that operates overseas as a sister organisation to the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation. It has been a repeated target of anti-war protesters.
Mr Quinlan believed there had been an over-reaction by the troops, who he claimed were SAS.
“They ran at us fast, tackled us to the ground, gave us a good beating around the head and then pulled hessian bags over our heads,” the peace activist said.
“They started dragging us around, demanding to know how many of us there were, then they cut up our pants with knives and searched us for weapons,” the 26-year-old student said.
He said he was relieved when police arrived and covered up what was left of their shredded clothes.
“I was thankful for the arrival of the police. When they got there I finally felt safe,” Mr Quinlan said.
Greg Rolles, another activist who entered the facility, said the group was only trying to disrupt preparations for war.
“The use of these tactics on citizens of Australia, peacefully protesting the actions of the SAS, is an alarming indication of the use of torture SAS is employing in Iraq, Afghanistan and other undisclosed locations,” he said.
Ambulance Victoria confirmed that two civilian men had been treated at Queenscliff for nose injuries.
A spokesperson for the Department of Defence was not available for comment.
