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Protesters Arrested At Sydney, Melbourne Islam Rallies

Police Arrest Protesters, Use Pepper Spray at Racism Rallies
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 18: Anti-racism activists and anti-Islam protesters clash in Melbourne, Australia on July 18, 2015. Hundreds of police were deployed in Western Australia on Saturday to break up violent protests near Parliament House in Melbourne after demonstrators from a right wing anti-Islam group faced off against anti-racism groups. (Photo by Recep Sakar/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 18: Anti-racism activists and anti-Islam protesters clash in Melbourne, Australia on July 18, 2015. Hundreds of police were deployed in Western Australia on Saturday to break up violent protests near Parliament House in Melbourne after demonstrators from a right wing anti-Islam group faced off against anti-racism groups. (Photo by Recep Sakar/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

A number of Reclaim Australia supporters have been arrested at anti-Islam rallies in Sydney and Melbourne, including one man who allegedly tried to graffiti a war memorial.

Police said the alleged vandal was arrested at the rally in Sydney's Martin Place on Saturday afternoon, while two other people at the same rally were detained by police.

"One person has been arrested for allegedly graffiting the commando memorial in Martin Place," a NSW police spokeswoman told HuffPost Australia.

"Two other people have been ... detained and moved to another location."

Four people have reportedly been arrested at a Reclaim Australia rally in Melbourne, which has been attended by around 150 people.

News Corp Australia reports that police have used pepper spray to separate the opposing camps in Melbourne.

Hundreds of police are said to be at the scene.

The Reclaim Australia rallies are taking place at the same time as a counter rallies in both cities.

In Sydney, an anti-racism rally currently underway has been addressed by firefighters' union secretary Jim Casey.

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