Pro-Palestinian protesters charged following Mardi Gras incident

Police have charged eight pro-Palestinian protesters after they crashed the Mardi Gras parade route and let off flares just ahead of NSW Premier Chris Minns, in a security incident that soured an otherwise peaceful evening of simultaneous mourning and joy.

The group jumped fences to enter the parade holding a large banner that read “Queer Solidarity with Palestinian Resistance” and let off red and green flares. Some members of the group were wearing keffiyehs, traditional Palestinian headscarves.

The incident occurred in front of the Oxford Hotel, near Taylor Square, just ahead of Chris Minns – the first sitting premier to march in the event – and his party colleagues who were in the parade with the Rainbow Labor contingent.

Footage from the area shows police running to the protesters and removing some from the scene, but apparently missing others who ran further down the march. All were removed from the area, with very little disruption to the parade.

Police arrested nine people connected to the protest, and in the early hours of Sunday morning charged eight of them – a 25-year-old man from Concord and seven women aged between 29 and 42 – with violent disorder charges.

The man was also charged over his use of flares in a public place.

The ninth person initially arrested was released without charge.

All were granted conditional bail, and will face Downing Centre Local Court in late March.