A Muslim charity group on their way to promote an anti-drug message at Stereosonic festival in Sydney were stopped and raided by more than 100 police officers, including members of the Counter Terrorism squad.
As the Daily Mail reports, IDO Homeless Run, also known as The White Coats, a Muslim charity group known for their community outreach work, were looking to spread an anti-drug message similar to schoolies’ iconic Red Frogs.
However, as the men prepared to make their way to Sydney’s Olympic Park from Lidcombe, west of Sydney, on Saturday, over 100 police intervened. Homeless Run have since posted a video on their Facebook page explaining the situation.
A bystander who was at the scene recorded a swarm of police and SWAT cars blocking the road and surrounding a group of members of the charity group. A petition has since been set up demanding an apology from police.
“They were each searched individually and had their van searched as well with nothing incriminating found whatsoever,” it reads. “As time passed, more and more police officers were called down including a SWAT van with armed officers.”
“[IDO Homeless Run attended] as concerned members of the community because we have lost ones down there to drugs and we went down there as a group,” Homeless Run explain in the video posted to their official Facebook page.
In a video depicting the dispute between police and the charity, an officer is seen telling the men that although their intentions were not meant to harm, they would “breach the peace” and on that basis they can’t allow it to occur.
