NSW Police will investigate after a woman was seriously injured during an arrest at a Sydney protest on Friday.(Supplied)
NSW Police will investigate the injury of a woman during her arrest at a pro-Palestinian protest last week after it was declared a "critical incident".
On Friday, Hannah Thomas — a former Greens candidate — sustained a facial injury while at a protest, which she described as "peaceful", in the Sydney suburb of Belmore.
The announcement of NSW Police's planned investigation follows Ms Thomas being charged with resisting arrest and refusing to comply with officers.
An investigation into how a 35-year-old woman was physically harmed while being placed under arrest at a pro-Palestinian protest will begin after NSW Police declared the situation a critical incident.
On June 27, Hannah Thomas — who ran for the seat of Grayndler in the 2025 federal election — sustained severe injuries to her right eye when she was arrested in south-west Sydney.
The former Greens candidate was one of roughly 60 people outside a manufacturing facility in Belmore during the "unauthorised" protest, according to NSW Police.
The protesters allege the facility is supplying components used in a type of jet flown by the Israel Defence Force. The company, SEC Plating, has denied these claims.
According to NSW Police, after two move-on directions were issued to those at the protest, including Ms Thomas, the 35-year-old was subsequently arrested for "allegedly failing to comply".
On Sunday, Ms Thomas admitted that she may lose vision in her right eye.(Instagram: hannah4grayndler)
One witness who spoke to the ABC on the condition of anonymity said Ms Thomas was hit in the face when officers attempted to get her onto her feet.
Videos of the protest show a woman being dragged away from the group of protesters before falling to the ground with an officer.
In the same video, officers can be heard saying, "Get up now", with a woman replying, "I'm trying".
"I was engaged in peaceful protests and my interactions with NSW Police have left me potentially without vision in my right eye permanently," Ms Thomassaid in a video while in Bankstown Hospital on Sunday night.
According to NSW Police, the decision to declare this a critical incident came on Monday afternoon, after Ms Thomas's medical records were provided to the force's designated medical officer.
NSW Police said it was determined that the level of the injuries warranted a critical incident declaration, with the suggestion actioned by Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden.
A critical incident is an event involving a NSW Police officer that results in the death or serious injury of a person, with police required to investigate once declared.
Assistant Commissioner McFadden declared a critical incident on Monday afternoon.(ABC News)
A designated team pulled from Campbelltown City Police Area Command will now investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, which in turn will be reviewed by the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission.
It is currently not known when the investigation will begin.
The announcement follows four days of controversy over Ms Thomas's arrest, with federal and NSW Greens members condemning what happened.
Greens MP and spokesperson for justice Sue Higginson said she welcomed Monday's declaration but said it was the "bare minimum requirement".
"It concerns me deeply that the police, in announcing the critical incident, have referred to the protest at Belmore [as] 'unauthorised,'" she said.
"It's important to remember people do not need authorisation to hold a protest. To do so would mean we really do live in a police state."
It also comes one day after Ms Thomas was charged by police for resisting arrest and refusing to comply with officers.
She is scheduled to appear at Bankstown Local Court on August 12.