Sydney Australia experiences its "Arab Winter"

From the Sydney Morning Herald;

Eight people were arrested and six officers were injured after a protest swept through the Sydney CBD this afternoon.

Police said that, about 1pm today, a group marched from Sydney Town Hall to Martin Place, where a confrontation occurred between protesters and police outside a building housing the US consulate.

The protests were triggered by a US film, Innocence of Muslims, portraying the prophet Muhammad as a womaniser and paedophile.

Police said two of the injured officers are now in hospital. Two vehicles were also damaged.

The crowd carried signs such as "Behead all those who insult the prophet" and "Our dead are in paradise, your dead are in hell".

Police used capsicum spray on the protesters, who at times pelted officers with bottles. Up to 500 people stormed through the city, working their way through Pitt Street before moving to Hyde Park amid a heavy police presence.

The protesters were pushed back as police dogs were deployed and capsicum spray was used.

Police made several arrests in Hyde Park amid violent confrontations with demonstrators....

Late in the afternoon a lone man from outside the group shouted: "Shame on you for promoting murder in the name of religion."

The crowd swarmed at him attacking him and sparking a second wave of violent clashes with police.

Police rushed to the man's aide and dragged him out of the park under a rain of waterbottles, sticks and abuse.

Read it all here

UPDATE:

More Photos from the Sydney Riots



FURTHER UPDATES
From our friends at the Online Hate Prevention Institute

(1) protests in Sydney were a mixture of ordinary Muslims (including those who brought their children along) who were trying to peacefully protests and what looks to be organised Islamist groups, some of whom appear to be set on violence,
(2) The Islamist groups do not represent the Muslim community in Australia,
(3) individual Muslims and the Muslim community as a whole are speaking out against today's violence,
(4) the Muslim community needs support online - so if you see anyone tarring the entire Muslim community as a result of today's events - please correct them.

The violence should be condemned, but the Australian Muslim community as a whole is not to blame for it and is just as appalled at it as the rest of the Australian community.