Former Greens candidate may lose her sight after being arrested at an anti-Israel protest
Hannah Thomas, 35, who recently ran against Anthony Albanese in the Sydney electorate of Grayndler, was photographed with a bruised and bloodied eye in Belmore on Friday morning.
She had gathered with about 50 other protesters outside a Lakemba business accused by the Greens of supplying materials used by the Israeli military.
The NSW Greens accused the business of 'reportedly [being] involved in providing plating services for various parts used in F-35 jets.
'The State of Israel's fleet of around 40 F-35 rely on the global supply chain and supplement supply from countries like Australia to continue the genocide against the Palestinian people,' it said in a statement on Friday morning.
Police issued a move-on direction to the group at about 5.35am on Friday to disrupt the alleged unauthorised protest.
Ms Thomas allegedly refused to comply with the order and sustained facial injuries during her arrest before being taken to Bankstown Hospital for treatment.
It is not clear exactly what caused Ms Thomas' injuries.
Doctors are worried she may never regain sight in her injured eye, the Daily Telegraph reported.
The NSW Greens said the extent of her injuries meant she may require facial reconstruction surgery.
It said lawyers had been engaged to represent Ms Thomas and the other protesters who were arrested during the incident.
Ms Thomas has attended anti-Israel protests in the past, having called on Australia to impose sanctions on Israel, whose government she accused of genocide.
She was among dozens of demonstrators who descended on Albanese's electorate office to demand action after Greta Thunberg's 'Freedom Flotilla' was seized by Israeli defence forces earlier this month.
A spokesperson for NSW Police told Daily Mail Australia Ms Thomas had not been charged following the incident.
'She sustained facial injuries while being arrested for allegedly failing to comply with a police direction and the arrest was discontinued and (she) was taken to Bankstown hospital for treatment,' they said.
Four others were arrested and charged during the protest, including a 24-year-old man who was allegedly found in possession of a stolen police body-worn camera.
Police said the camera was stolen by an unknown protester during a scuffle and was tracked to the 24-year-old's location.
Greens MP Sue Higginson described the actions of police as 'brutal and excessive', before calling on NSW Premier Chris Minns to take accountability.
Three men and a 29-year-old woman were taken to Campsie Police Station following their arrests.
The 29-year-old woman was charged with refuse/fail to comply with direction under part 14 while the 24-year-old man was charged with larceny and goods in personal custody suspected being stolen (not m/v).
The 41-year-old man was charged with use offensive language in/near public place/school and the 26-year-old man was charged with refuse/fail to comply with direction under part 14 and hinder or resist police officer in the execution of duty.
All four were granted conditional bail to appear before Bankstown Local Court on Tuesday July 15.
Police said inquiries were ongoing.
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