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More angry scenes erupted in Sydney's west overnight as tensions increased between local Indian students and the Lebanese community.
About 70 students gathered in the heart of Harris Park, but this time they were confronted by local Lebanese youths.
Police were forced to hold back the angry mob in the third straight night of protests.
The Indian protesters continue to say they are being attacked by Lebanese youths and police are ignoring their pleas for protection.
A man was issued with a court notice for carrying an offensive weapon after being allegedly found with a piece of timber during a police search.
Earlier, Parramatta Council held a meeting with police, India's consul general and members of Sydney's Indian community, with organisers saying students had agreed to stop protesting.
But the flare-up that occurred after the meeting has left Indian leaders exasperated and some locals are concerned there could be fresh outbreaks of violence in the backstreets of western Sydney.
Local Lebanese views
The ABC's Di Bain was in Harris Park last night, gauging how Lebanese community members are reacting to the commotion.
Lebanese man Allan has lived in Sydney's west for 30 years. He visits the same Lebanese patisserie every night and is nonplussed by recent protests nearby.
"This is a show - what they're putting on," he said.
"I've been around the world four times and there would not be a better country on Earth."
He says the Lebanese community is not scared by the Indian protesters' threats.
"The Lebanese community in Harris Park or Parramatta doesn't exist," he said.
"Truly, they're peaceful people, same as the Indian people."
John, a 23-year-old Harris Park local of Lebanese descent, was also unfazed by the recent protests.
"I don't think there's any tension. I think it's a bit of a joke," he said.
"I think it's pretty funny - they're putting a good show on. It's a bit of a laugh."Copper Castings
And he doesn't think the Lebanese pick on Indians.
"Just because there's one bad person, like that might have done something wrong to them, doesn't give them the right to cause all this riot for everyone else," he said.
"Like, there's old people that live here as well, there's residents. I think it's pretty stupid." |