Eight arrested as pro-Palestinian protesters clash with police at defence expo in Sydney

NSW Police have arrested eight people during a protest outside a defence conference at the Sydney International Convention Centre (ICC).

Dozens of demonstrators from Palestine Action Group gathered outside the ICC, which is hosting the Indo Pacific International Maritime Exposition, just before 6:30am.

The commercial maritime and naval defence expo features Australian and international defence, industry, government, academia and technology organisations, including the Navy and Department of Defence.

Riot squad and mounted unit police officers briefly clashed with protesters as they shouted chants and waved Palestinian flags, with officers deploying pepper spray multiple times into the crowd.

A group of anti-AUKUS protesters had also flagged a demonstration at the event.

Palestine Acti