The Briefing 'A police officer punched me': MP hospitalised in wild protest
Feb 10, 2026
Abigail Boyd, Greens MP and civil liberties advocate, describes alleged police violence at a pro-Palestine rally in Sydney. She recounts being struck while filming, scenes of injured protesters, and why she doubts official accounts. The conversation also critiques protest laws and the leadership choices that may have escalated the clash.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
MP Pushed And Struck While Filming
- Abigail Boyd describes being on the Town Hall steps filming the rally when police rushed in and pushed her down the stairs.
- She says a police officer then punched her in the chin and chest before others pushed and hurled praying people around.
Containment Created Escalation Risk
- Abigail Boyd says police blocked exits and prevented the crowd leaving, creating conditions that escalated the situation.
- She suggests police effectively manufactured the circumstances for a violent intervention by containing people in the square.
Elderly Protester Severely Injured
- Abigail Boyd recounts seeing a 78-year-old man’s arm bent back so fiercely his skin ripped and he bled.
- She says people praying were lifted and thrown despite not resisting and medics tried to help the injured.