A New South Wales (NSW) police officer has been charged with assaulting a protester during a pro-Palestinian demonstration in Sydney in June.
Hannah Thomas, a former Greens candidate, claims a senior constable punched her in the face outside SEC Plating in Belmore. She needed surgery for her injuries and feared she might lose vision in her right eye. SEC Plating has denied supplying weapon parts to the Israel Defense Forces.
The protest, held early on June 27, focused on claims that the company makes components for F-35 jets used by Israel. NSW Police said the protest was unauthorized and ordered the crowd to disperse before a scuffle broke out. Five people, including Thomas, were arrested. She faced charges for failing to comply and resisting an officer, but all charges were dropped earlier this month. Thomas also received about A$22,000 in legal costs.
NSW Police confirmed the officer’s employment is under review. A critical incident investigation is ongoing. The officer is charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and will appear in court in November.
Thomas’s lawyer, Peter O’Brien, said the long-term impact on her eye remains unclear. He plans to file civil proceedings against the police, including claims of assault, malicious prosecution, and abuse of process.
