Cops break up second neo-Nazi gathering in Sydney one day after Australia Day ambush

Police have swooped on another neo-Nazi gathering in Sydney, one day after they ambushed members of the National Socialist Network on Australia Day. | WATCH OUR COPS IN ACTION

Police have swooped on another neo-Nazi gathering in Sydney, this time in Turramurra.

Officers on Saturday night served ringleader Thomas Sewell a Public Safety Order extension, prohibiting him from entering a number of local government areas in Sydney until midnight on Sunday.

“Police have served a 31-year-old man with a Public Safety Order extension, prohibiting him from entering a number of local government areas in Sydney until midnight (on Sunday),” NSW Police said in a statement.

“The order extension was served (on Saturday) evening at North Turramurra.”

Around 40 people, believed to be members of the neo-Nazi group National Socialist Network, were seen near the North Turramurra Scout Hall, surrounded by police, including the riot squad.

Officers were seen questioning at least six of the men on Bobbin Head Rd in North Turramurra.

It comes after a group of at least 60 men boarded a Sydney train on Australia Day wearing balaclavas and carrying a banner referencing a neo-Nazi group.

Members of the National Socialist Network in North Sydney on Friday. Picture: Tom Parrish

Senior police were taking no chances with interstate neo-Nazis on Friday, with a pre-prepared statement read to the balaclava-clad group signed off by the top brass weeks before.

The revelations on Saturday came as Premier Chris Minns said he would consider banning the Nazi salute in NSW after the “idiots” stormed the streets of Sydney.

Scores of officers were on hand on Friday to spoil their plans at North Sydney station just after noon before the group were able to get into the CBD.

The direction read to ringleader and convicted criminal Thomas Sewell had been prepared by some of the state’s most senior police, who knew in advance the group’s planned to gather in Sydney.

Beyond a usual “move on” direction, the riot squad officer who read out the order on Friday detailed how Sewell and his group’s “previous attendance and public order incidents, criminal history, history of assaulting members of the public and your role in provoking and intimidating people”.

They were also banned from the City Of Sydney local government area until Saturday and anywhere a planned Australia Day event may be taking place because their presence “poses a serious risk to public safety”.

The group of men clad in black at North Sydney station. Picture: Transport for NSW.

Premier Minns on Saturday confirmed he wanted to look at law changes to keep the community safe.

“We will consider action in relation to that to keep Sydney’s streets safe, to promote social cohesion and harmony,” he said.

“Last year, or the year prior to that, in a bipartisan fashion, both major political parties came together to outlaw the swastika in NSW.

“I would consider going even further in relation to law changes to keep community safety and harmony on our streets.”

Describing yesterday’s scenes as “distressing”, the premier thanked police for their swift response when the group of balaclava-clad men boarded a train to the city.

‘I’ve called this media conference to talk about some distressing scenes on Sydney’s transport network where a group of far right neo-Nazis and idiots frankly tried to destroy (Australia) Day for millions of ordinary Australians,” he said.

“Thanks to fast-moving police work and the brilliant work of the public order and riot squad, this menace was stopped before a very ugly confrontation on Sydney’s streets,” he said.

NSW Premier Chris Minns on Saturday described yesterday’s scenes as “distressing”. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

“There is no place for this kind of fascism, neo-Nazism or far-right extremism on this great day Australia Day and the vast, vast majority of people that live in this State will completely reject any notion or idea that this group of far-right extremists and neo-Nazis are needed on our national day.

A big message to the neo-Nazis and far right extremist groups: You are not welcome here. You are not welcome in NSW. This kind of ridiculous behaviour is so out of keeping with the kind of culture that we have built up in this great State. No normal person wears a balaclava, let alone on Australia Day on the public transport system

If it wasn’t so menacing, it would be completely ridiculous.”

In dramatic scenes, the group from the National Socialist Network were intercepted by police at North Sydney Station before becoming involved in a tense stand-off in a nearby park with heavily armed officers from the Public Order and Riot Squad.

The group were banned from taking part in Australia Day events before being escorted up the Pacific Hwy under the watch of the police helicopter and a large procession of police cars.

During the stand-off, the group’s leader, convicted criminal and known far-right extremist Thomas Sewell, delivered a monologue to the throng of police calling them “cowards” and claiming his group was only planning to hold a peaceful “pro-white” rally in the Sydney CBD.

The balaclava-clad men carry an Australian flag onto the train platform. Picture: Transport for NSW.

Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-CEO Alex Ryvchin said: “It is shocking to see a gang of neo-Nazis roaming freely through our streets. The police were right to restrain them to prevent any possibility of violence. Ironically, they have much in common with the pro-Palestinian element that has latched onto Australia Day protests.

“They support fascism and violence. They want to destroy our country and they are obsessed with anti-Jewish conspiracies. This incident reminds us how fragile our social order is and the need for vigilance in the face of violent movements intent on spreading lies, hatred and fear.”

Sewell claimed the group was planning a peaceful protest and said: “Unless someone attacks us, there’s no violence.”

On a day where the temperature nudged 40 degrees, concerned families watched as the group clad in military style boots and black uniforms with white power symbols on them boarded a train at Artarmon Station after midday.

At least one was holding a riot shield while others waved Australian flags, witnesses said.

The group demanded the train doors be left open as they marched onto a carriage in front of increasingly concerned families and children.

“They were all in the back carriage. I just thought: ‘These guys look like trouble’,” Jason, 48, from Baulkham Hills, said.

Jason said they ruined the Australia Day plans of himself and other passengers.

“I was hoping to see The Roulettes,” he said. “I knew something was amiss after we left Artarmon and the train started to go really slow. After it got to Waverton and switched tracks, I knew something was really wrong.”

One of the men gives the OK symbol, which the Anti-Defamation League says is often used as a symbol of white supremacy.

Leader of the neo-Nazi group NSN Thomas Sewell on Friday. Pictures: Sam Ruttyn

The train driver terminated the journey at North Sydney Station, where scores of police held the train for three hours.

The officers evacuated members of the public before detaining the members of the white supremacist group.

Police demanded IDs from the men and ordered them to remove their masks before detaining those who refused to co-operate.

A police spokesman said six people were arrested and 55 people were given infringement for offensive behaviour on public transport. Investigations are continuing and police expect to lay charges.

Speaking to The Saturday Telegraph, Sewell – who was convicted of assault in Victoria last year – claimed his group was arrested for no reason.

“If you’re a white Australian on Australia Day, trying to celebrate, the Riot Squad or the counter-terrorism unit will stop you in your tracks and they will obstruct you from your peaceful demonstration,” he said. “We haven’t done anything illegal.”

The men were being held on the train by a number of police officers.

Scores of police descended on the train. Picture: Transport for NSW.

Sewell’s plan to march his neo-Nazi group through the city was based on their view Australian culture was “being destroyed”.

“Australia Day is under attack by anti-white communists and Jews within the institutions,” he said.

“They want to destroy our culture as the white majority. They want to replace us as the white majority.”

Sewell, whose Wikipedia profile says he was born in New Zealand, said the group was mostly from Sydney but others had joined from other parts of Australia.

In an encrypted group chat operated by The NSN, Sewell shared videos of police banning the men from attending any Australia Day events.

The chat has amassed more than 5000 members, who are greeted with the words “Hello racist” when they join.

After they were removed from the train, six were taken away in police vans.

Police hold the men at bay on the train.

Police moved the rest of the group to St Peters Park next to the station just before 3pm, where they were confronted by an equal number of officers from the Public Order and Riot Squad.

The group was then read the contents of a police move-on order. The confrontation threatened to turn violent when Sewell’s group refused to leave and sang a White Australia song.

Sewell then delivered a monologue where he insulted the police.

“You should be ashamed of yourself and you should get a f--king trade,” he said. “Go learn carpentry and go work an honest job, earn an honest living instead of serving these anti-white, anti-Australian terrorists.

“You’d rather be comfortable and satiated working for the beast system,” he said.

Several of the heavily armed officers could be heard laughing at Sewell. It was at that point the officers moved in.

Sewell’s group backed down and the police marched them up the Pacific Hwy towards Chatswood.

Officers discussed the importance of not letting Sewell’s group turn right at the Pacific Hwy at North Sydney.

“They will be straight onto the bridge,” one officer told a colleague.

Despite his claims of acting peacefully, Sewell has a violent criminal record.

Last year, he was sentenced in the Victorian county court to one month and seven days’ imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to attacking a group of hikers

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