Despicable moment maskless thug punches a police horse named Tobruk during anti-lockdown chaos in Sydney - as 'disgusted' Gladys Berejiklian slams protesters for 'compromising the safety of all of us'

The despicable moment a mask-less thug punched a police horse named Tobruk during Saturday's violent anti-lockdown protests has been caught on camera.

The long-haired protester - wearing a t-shirt bearing the message 'free speech - more important than your feelings' - was seen throwing his left fist at the horse's face during chaotic scenes outside Sydney's Town Hall station.

The confronting image came as tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of cities across Australia on Saturday afternoon in simultaneous protests against Covid-19 lockdowns. 

A cowardly maskless thug was photographed punching a police horse during Saturday's violent anti-lockdown protest

NSW Police posted a photo of the horse on Saturday evening and pleaded with the public to identify the man who threw the punch.  

'Good news! Troop horse Tobruk was not injured and is recovering back at the stables after a hard day’s work,' a police Facebook post later read.  

NSW Police charged 57 protesters with various offences and a special strikeforce had been set up to track down thousands of maskless demonstrators who attended the rally.

Horrifying footage angry protesters in Sydney attacking police and hurling pot plants at officers on horseback emerged as anti-lockdown rallies across the country descended into chaos.

There were wild scenes in protests across the Sydney CBD on Saturday afternoon, prompting Gladys Berejiklian to vow the activists would face 'the full force of the law'

Frenzied crowds were heard screaming 'you serve us!' to police as a group of protesters were filmed crash tackling officers into a garden bed in front of Town Hall station in Sydney.

It is now feared the reckless protesters could lead to a devastating Covid super spreader event.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Saturday evening vowed those who gathered for the illegal demonstration would face 'the full force of the law'.

She said she was 'utterly disgusted' by the protesters and said their actions had compromised the safety of everyone in NSW as the state battles a surging outbreak of the highly-contagious Delta variant.

'I am utterly disgusted by the illegal protestors in the City today whose selfish actions have compromised the safety of all of us,' Ms Berejiklian said.

'The protesters have shown utter contempt for their fellow citizens who are currently doing it tough.'

'I want to thank the brave police officers who put their own safety on the line to ensure the protest action ceased. 

NSW Police have appealed for help identifying the long-haired man in this photo who punched Troop horse Tobruk during Saturday's wild anti-lockdown protests

NSW Police later released a photo of Tobruk resting in his stable to show the horse was unharmed

'This type of activity during lockdown will not be tolerated and the full force of the law will be brought against anyone who engages in this type of illegal activity.'  

NSW Police Minister David Elliott labelled those in the rallies as 'boofheads' and said 90 had been fined across the state with many more arrests expected.

'What we saw today was 3,500 very selfish boofheads — people that thought the law didn't apply to them,' he said. 

Wild protests erupted in Melbourne and around Australia on Saturday and thousands of reckless residents demanded an end to lockdowns

Some protesters took it upon themselves to set off smoke bombs during protests in Melbourne where six were arrested 

'If we don't see a spike in the areas these protesters came from in the next week I'll be very, very surprised,' Elliott said.

'It was just a whole lot of halfwits. There is no doubt in my mind that at least one individual there today had COVID, it is statistically impossible for us not to consider that.

'I'm appealing to all 3,500 people to get tested tomorrow, if not for themselves for the sake of their family and friends.'

NSW Police have set up Strike Force Seasoned to identify and prosecute those who broke the law during the protest. 

Police also published the photo of the attack on the horse Tobruk social media in an attempt to identify the assailant - who made no attempt to hide his identity or his animosity. 

Protesters were met by mounted police outside Town Hall in Sydney - with neither group prepared to back down 

Mounted police are pictured in Sydney with hi-vis and protective headgear.  NSW Police said 57 arrests were made during the demonstration

The post has been shared more than 5,000 times within an hour as Sydneysiders showed their support for the officers keeping order on Saturday.

Police on Saturday evening said all the horses used in the police operation, including 'Tobruk' - the horse that was punched in the photo - were uninjured.

'Good news! Troop horse Tobruk was not injured and is recovering back at the stables after a hard day’s work,' the force said in a statement.

'If you have any information to assist in identifying the man depicted, please contact police.

'Our officers have already started to identify attendees and will continue for as long as required to identify and prosecute all those who broke the law today,' Deputy Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said.