Bendigo councillors leave meeting under police escort after anti-mosque protest erupts
Updated
Police were called in to escort Bendigo councillors from their regular meeting after anti-mosque protesters began chanting and hurling abuse at them from the public gallery.
About 150 people were at Wednesday night's meeting where there were heated discussions about plans for the city's first mosque.
Opponents of the development, which obtained council backing, launched legal action in the Victorian Court of Appeal to challenge the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal's decision to approve the plans.
They have been vocal in their opposition since last year when the mosque was first proposed.
During the meeting, a number of protesters shouted profanities at the councillors and chanted "no mosque" as they approached the council table.
The heckling began during the opening prayer and escalated as the floor was opened up to questions from the public which included a number about the mosque.
Protesters shouted "resign" and "traitor" at Mayor Peter Cox who adjourned the meeting.
Police were called in about 7:30pm (AEST) and asked the crowd to leave the room before escorting the councillors out.
The lead objector to the mosque, Julie Hoskin, sat in the mayor's chair at the conclusion of the meeting to shouts of "Julie for Mayor".
Victoria Police said there were no assaults or reports of criminal activity.
The incident follows a rally between anti-Islamic groups and anti-racism protesters last month which shut down the centre of Bendigo.
Large numbers of police were on scene at that gathering to keep the two sides apart.
Topics: police, local-government, bendigo-3550
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