Four people have now been charged over the violent assault of two police officers in Victoria at the weekend.
A 26-year-old St Kilda man, a 27-year-old Langwarrin man, a 25-year-old Langwarrin woman and a 38-year-old Frankston man were arrested and charged with the brutal bashing, which took place in the beachside Melbourne suburb of St Kilda in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Victoria Police were called to the scene on Fitzroy Street at around 3am after receiving reports of an alleged assault.
While one man was being arrested several others intervened, with footage obtained by 7 News showing a police officer being slammed onto the ground. A man is then captured on video throwing the police officer to the ground several times as others rush over to the scene in an attempt to thwart the attack.
Police have made a number of arrests over that sickening video of two officers being attacked at St Kilda. @nathantemp7 #7News pic.twitter.com/rBWXD1XkUu
— 7NEWS Melbourne (@7NewsMelbourne) February 24, 2019
All four people involved in the shocking attack have since been charged with two counts of assault police, affray, violent disorder, intentionally cause injury and other assault related offences. They are due to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Monday morning.
The footage has since been shared online causing outrage among Aussies who were obviously shocked by the incident, with Victoria Police, OC spray was used throughout the attack in which two police officers were injured.
“Anyone who attacks our police should get a very long jail sentence. Alcohol? Drugs? If you take them then you take full responsibility for any of your actions with affected,” one person wrote on Twitter.
“What initiative can be made to teach people to be kind, respectful to one another? Children were taught police are friends to everyone, police are employed to protect,” another queried.
While a third added: “Throw the full thrust of our law in their direction. No pathetic excuses”.
The investigation is ongoing as police review CCTV footage of the incident.
Read more: Vandals target brand-new ambulance in sickening attack
The attack follows the vandalism of an ambulance in Queensland last year. The Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) shared photos of the disgusting crime on its Facebook page back in June, showing the new twin stretcher unit covered in graffiti tags.
“Where has the respect gone?” QAS asked. “What a kick in the guts for our officers who care for the community. Staff at our Woodridge station south of Brisbane arrived at work this morning to find one of our new twin stretcher units vandalised, covered in graffiti.”
QAS said because of the vandalism, the vehicle had to be taken off the roads and was unable to respond to people in need.
“The perpetrators of this senseless act should remember it may be them or a loved one that may need our urgent care,” QAS said.