Pigs nab G20 protester in Sydney update

A New Zealand man wanted for rioting in Melbourne at last year's
G20 economic summit has been arrested in Sydney on a holiday stopover
to Europe.

  Victorian police heading the taskforce into last November's
violent rioting said Gabriel Shanks was arrested in Sydney yesterday
en route to Spain and Britain.

  He was wanted for riot and affray offences committed during the
summit on November 18.

  The 22-year-old was arrested by airport police and remanded to
appear at Waverly Court for an extradition hearing on Monday.
  Victoria Police officers will fly to Sydney for the hearing and
expect Mr Shanks to appear in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on
Tuesday.

  It comes nearly one year on from the violent confrontation between
protesters and police in Melbourne's CBD.

  "He was arrested as he was travelling through Sydney airport from
New Zealand en route to Europe," said Detective Sergeant Adrian
Richards.

  "Police at the airport arrested him on our behalf, we believe he
was going to Spain or England.

  "It's unclear if he was going for political purposes and have no
idea of his travel intentions -- it's a coincidence that he has
happened to return to Australia the same week as the first
anniversary (of the riot)," Detective Sergeant Richards said.

  Mr Shanks was one of 28 "persons of interest" featured in police
photographs from the summit protest released to the media.

  Officers heading Operation Salver, the taskforce investigating the
riots, have arrested 12 of the people featured.

  The G20 demonstrations on November 18 injured 10 police officers,
with one constable bitten during a confrontation between 100
protesters and 60 police near Parliament House.

  In March, police charged another five people in Sydney over the
violent protests.

  Four men aged 20 to 25 and a 17-year-old youth were arrested in
raids in five suburbs.

  A total of 26 people have been charged in relation to the G20
economic forum riot with a total of 246 offences.

  Most who have appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court since have
had their bail extended until February when they will appear for
committal hearings.

  Last month, Melbourne protester Akin Sari -- who was also arrested
in Sydney -- pleaded guilty to rioting during the summit.