The police operation today at Colo against environmental group Blockade Australia – which began at 8.30am – saw a very large police presence, with officers from PolAir, the Dog Unit, the Public Order and Riot Squad, Police Rescue, Raptor Squad and Operations Support Group rushing to the scene early this morning.

Blockade Australia, an environmental group, said this afternoon that the police response was an over-reaction.

Police say the large response was because an unmarked police vehicle attended the scene and had allegedly had its tyres damaged – either punctured or let down, and officers feared for their lives.

Police say they were carrying out “planned investigations at a property on Putty Road, when they were approached by a group of people”.

“Nearby police resources attended to assist, two people were arrested and the remainder of the group fled into bushland,” said police.

NSW Police said the group, Blockade Australia, who are climate protestors, was “planning and preparing” for “extreme forms of protest”.

Blockade Australia said in a statement this afternoon, “Police are raiding our beautiful camp. Groups of cops in cammo gear with guns surrounded our camp this morning. Dog squad, riot police, helicopters and fully militarised police are all over us.

“Of course, they will take all our means of communication first, so sorry, no livestreams are likely. This is how an extractivist state responds to the challenge of saving our life support systems. This is how a system based on climate destruction responds to a movement of nonviolent climate defenders. Repression.”

At a media briefing this afternoon, Assistant Commissioner Paul Dunstan said police “feared for their lives”.

“Those police that were attacked by that group this morning feared for their lives. They called for urgent assistance and police from all over the Sydney metropolitan area responded to assist and provide aid to those police officers,” he said.

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