Nazi salutes and clashes: Arrests made as protesters face off at anti-immigration rally

Police have confronted a group of neo-Nazis outside Victoria's Parliament House, as protesters and counter-protesters faced off at an anti-immigration rally in Melbourne.

Police clashed with both neo-Nazis and anti-fascist protesters during an anti-immigration rally in Melbourne on 13 May. Source: AAP / Diego Fedele

KEY POINTS:

• Neo-Nazis clashed with police and counter-protesters in Melbourne at an anti-immigration rally.
• A group of men performed the Nazi salute outside Victoria's Parliament House, an act that drew condemnation.
• A Victoria Police spokesperson said there was a heavy police presence across the city.

Two men have been arrested after a group of neo-Nazis clashed with police and counter-protesters at an anti-immigration rally on the streets of Melbourne.

Wild scenes erupted as police wrangled crowds outside Parliament House, where a group of masked men dressed in black performed the Nazi salute, sparking a bitter war of words that escalated into shoving and bottles being thrown.

Members of a Campaign Against Racism and Fascism group chanted "refugees welcome, Nazis are not" as they faced off with a group holding a banner for the far-right National Socialist Network.

Police arrested a 30-year-old Doreen man for theft of a police body camera and assaulting police, while a 20-year-old Werribee man was arrested for discharging a missile and assaulting police.

Federal Labor MP Chris Bowen condemned the protests.

"It's unspeakably un-Australian," he said.

"It's unacceptable. It is not on."

A Victoria Police spokesperson said there was a heavy police presence across the city.

A group of masked men dressed in all black at one point performed the Nazi salute outside Victoria's Parliament House on Saturday. Source: AAP / Diego Fedele

"Officers are equipped and well prepared to deploy resources to ensure the safety of the community and to keep the peace," the spokesperson said.

"Hate and prejudice hold no place in our community and we will not tolerate any offensive and abhorrent anti-social behaviour."

Victorian Opposition leader John Pesutto slammed the protest and thanked the police for their work.

"The Victorian Liberals and Nationals condemn neo-Nazi thugs and their toxic bigotry and hate," Mr Pesutto wrote in a joint statement with deputy Liberal leader David Southwick.

"Australia has a proud history of an orderly immigration program where people from all backgrounds come together in shared liberal-democratic values."

The Liberal Party renewed its offer to work with the Andrews Labor government on plans to ban the Nazi salute, announced by the government following its use at an anti-transgender rights rally in March.

Earlier on Saturday, police declared the CBD a "designated area" from 7am to 7pm in response to the planned "stop immigration rally".

The designation means officers are empowered to search a person or their vehicle for weapons.

Members of a Campaign Against Racism and Fascism group chanted "refugees welcome, Nazis are not" as they faced off with a group holding a banner for the far-right National Socialist Network. Source: AAP / DIEGO FEDELE/AAPIMAGE

Greens deputy leader Mehreen Faruqi condemned the Nazi salute display.

"Disgraceful to see Neo-Nazis on the streets of Melbourne again, this time rallying against immigration," she tweeted.

"Fascism & racism have no place in our multicultural society & must be destroyed."

Most states and territories have enacted bans or are in the process of outlawing the display of Nazi symbols, with the salute covered in some jurisdictions.

Victoria has banned Nazi symbols in public and is moving to include the Nazi salute.