Ten Australians, belonging to both anti-Islam and anti-racism groups, have been arrested by police after protests broke out across the nation.
Of those 10 protesters, six were arrested on Sunday, 22 November, following clashes that erupted in Melbourne's outskirt area at Melton.
Australian police have detained a seventh man, aged 29, who was found with capsicum sprays after he allegedly punched a horse. The man, who belonged to the anti-racism group, is expected to face charges.
In separate protests, which erupted in Queensland, New South Wales, and South Australia, police have arrested three men.
Aged between 36, 48 and 64 respectively, the three men were arrested in Sydney, Adelaide and Brisbane for alleged crimes involving destroying a memorial, public nuisance and affray.
Rallies in support of the protests took place in Canberra, Perth and Hobart as well; however, police revealed that no clashes were reported.
One man, who joined anti-Islam nationalist group "Reclaim Australia" reportedly, said that he joined the group "for the right reasons".
He added that some people might have participated in the protests for the wrong reasons, but "the right reason is making sure everyone assimilates and becomes Australian," BBC reported.
"We don't want to be treated like we don't belong in this town and we don't want an organisation where people of certain origins have been making trouble. We don't want trouble in our town," he added.
Darwin Police revealed that no rallies took place in the Northern Territory.
"We're pretty tolerant, we love everyone here in Darwin," a police spokeswoman said.
The Reclaim Australia group has organised several rallies across Australia in the past, of which many turned out to be violent.
Furthermore, this isn't the first time clashes erupted between anti-racist groups and anti-Islam or radical nationalists. Earlier in July, similar incidents took place after a clash broke out in Melbourne.
