Longreach man, 34, charged over allegedly displaying Nazi flag at home

A Qld man charged after allegedly displaying a Nazi flag has been referred for assessment under the state’s Counter-Terrorism Investigation Group.

The man will appear at Longreach Courthouse on March 11.

A Longreach man charged under hate crime laws after allegedly displaying a Nazi flag in the window of his home has been referred for assessment under the state’s Counter-Terrorism Investigation Group.

Detectives went to the man’s house in Falcon St on Monday and seized the flag, after a tip-off from the public.

The 34-year-old has been charged with displaying a prohibited symbol and has been issued a notice to appear before Longreach Magistrates Court on March 11. No terrorism-related charges have been laid.

Longreach officer-in-charge Detective Sergeant Jonathon Lacey said investigators believed it was an isolated incident.

“He is known to police,” Sgt Lacey said.

A 34-year-old man has been charged after allegedly displaying a Nazi flag.

“Any investigation of this nature undergo assessments in terms of any potential threats.

“At this point in time we do believe it is an isolated incident, there is no risk to the public.

“People who do come to police attention for this kind of (alleged) behaviour, they do undergo assessment through our Counter-Terrorism Investigation Group.”

The Australian man has claimed to not have any ideologies.

“He is not part of an establish network as far as we can tell,” Sgt Lacey said.

“We do believe he is acting as an individual, we haven’t identified any ties from any known far-right organisations.

“It’s not unheard of in rural areas as well, it doesn’t matter where it happens it’s going to be a top priority for our investigators.

“Longreach is a town of 3000, it is a small population and a small community. We do have reports from members of the community who don’t want these behaviours happening in our town.”

The man’s charge comes amid a major national investigation into the Dural caravan terror plot in NSW and investigations into antisemitism.

Queensland Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski last month said officers were on high alert for anti-Semitism and hate crimes across the state.

Mr Gollschewski said recent attacks in NSW and Victoria could “easily start to happen in our own state”.

In December police charged a man over an alleged anti-Semitic sign displayed in the window of a Morningside home.

Originally published as Longreach man, 34, charged over allegedly displaying Nazi flag at home