A tense situation unfolded at the Hyatt Hotel in Canberra during the ADM Congress, a significant defense conference. The event was disrupted by a series of incidents, including a window being smashed and a suspicious package being reported. The Australian Federal Police (AFP) swiftly responded, evacuating several hundred delegates and asking the bomb squad to investigate. This came after a rock shattered a window earlier in the day, causing initial panic among attendees who feared gunshots. The incidents occurred amidst a planned protest by Students and Staff Against War (SSAW) and the Independent and Peaceful Australia Network (IPAN), demanding sanctions on Israel and an end to collaboration with defense companies accused of complicity in genocide. The protest organizers, in a statement, called for the government to cut ties with organizations linked to genocide and for the ANU to cease its partnership with defense companies like EOS and Northrop Grumman. The situation highlights the complex interplay between politics, protests, and security at major defense events, leaving attendees and organizers grappling with the consequences of these actions.
