Neo-Nazi leader Thomas Sewell charged over alleged assault of Channel 9 security guard

A neo-Nazi leader accused of assaulting a Channel 9 security guard after being asked to leave the station’s Melbourne office has been charged.

A neo-Nazi leader accused of assaulting a Channel 9 security guard has been charged over the incident.

Thomas Sewell, who leads the far-right National Socialist Network, allegedly punched the security guard after they went to the Channel 9 headquarters in Melbourne over a story broadcast on A Current Affairon Monday night.

Sewell, who was reportedly asked to leave the building in Docklands multiple times by the security guard, allegedly attacked him on the footpath outside after being led from the office.

Sewell had an associate, who he called a “cameraman”, film the pair being led from the building and later uploaded footage of the alleged attack online.

Victoria Police confirmed Sewell, 27, and his associate, 21, both from Rowville, were arrested by detectives from the Counter Terrorism Command on Tuesday night.

They were interviewed overnight and Sewell was charged with charged with affray, recklessly cause injury and unlawful assault.

A still from the video showing Sewell allegedly wrestling with the security guard.

“It’s alleged the victim was approached and assaulted by an unknown man at a Bourke Street business about 5pm (on Monday),” police said in a statement.

Sewell was bailed to face Melbourne Magistrates Court on July 27, while the associate was released pending further investigation.

The security guard spent the night in hospital for treatment to his injuries, and A Current Affair said he spent Tuesday morning with his children and was on the mend.

The security guard falls backwards after allegedly being attacked.

Footage of the alleged attack uploaded online shows the incident was preceded by a racial slur directed towards the security guard by Sewell’s unidentified associate.

“Dance monkey, dance,” he told the guard.

Sewell can also be heard saying “now he’s acting like a monkey”.

“Watch yourself. I’m not a dance monkey. Watch yourself,” the guard responded.

The security guard attempts to lead the pair beyond a white line where he says they are allowed to film.

At this point the camera is very close to the security guard with only his torso visible, so it’s unclear what exactly happens next, but the situation quickly escalates.

“Don’t you f***ing touch me,” the associate said.

Sewell then grabs the guard and allegedly throws multiple punches in quick succession, knocking him to the ground.

A still from a video uploaded by Thomas Sewell after an incident at the Channel 9 headquarters in Docklands, Melbourne. Picture: Supplied

Sewell then holds the guard down and stands over him in a threatening manner while witnesses yell at Sewell to “leave him” alone.

Sewell is then pulled off the guard by a bystander.

The security guard gets back to his feet and appears a little dazed before squaring off with Sewell.

The video ends with the security guard going back inside the building and Sewell walking away with his T-shirt ripped.

Thomas Sewell was ‘sure the matter would go to court’. Picture: YouTube

Sewell uploaded another video on Monday from his car with his shirt ripped after the incident. He claimed he and his associate were assaulted by the security guard.

“Out of reasonable self-defence for the cameraman, to stop him from having his throat crushed, I disabled the attacker,” he said.

“More security guards came out, looked like they were going to assault us, so we darted off.”

In an interview with A Current Affair on Tuesday after the incident, Sewell said he was “sure the matter would go to court”.

“I used lawful force to stop this person from further attacking and crushing that person’s windpipe,” he said.

Police said the Counter Terrorism Command was responsible for investigating incidents of terrorism and communal violence, with communal violence defined as violence or threats of violence between groups that define themselves by their differences, such as ideology, politics and religion.

[e-mail]

Originally published as Neo-Nazi leader Thomas Sewell charged over alleged assault of Channel 9 security guard