Protesters mob PM [View all]
Police have had to rescue the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader after they were trapped in the Lobby Restaurant by angry Tent Embassy protesters.
About 200 people surrounded the restaurant, which is near the Tent Embassy, banging on the glass sides and chanting "shame" and "racist".
They kept Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott trapped in the building near Old Parliament House for up to half an hour this afternoon before a large contingent of police forcibly escorted the political leaders through a side door to a waiting car.
Protesters chased their car down the road, banging on its roof and bonnet.
The ABC is reporting that police will investigate footage of the event.
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/protesters-mob-pm/2433902.aspx
And here's why it happened...
Comments by federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott that perhaps it was time for the Aboriginal tent embassy to move on triggered a protest that trapped him and Prime Minister Julia Gillard in a Canberra restaurant.
About 200 protesters ran from the tent embassy, where 40th anniversary celebrations were under way, to the nearby Lobby restaurant in Canberra after learning Mr Abbott was giving a speech there.
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/abbott-comments-trigger-restaurant-siege-20120126-1qj0v.html
= new reply since forum marked as read