Conspiracist James Bartolo arrested over alleged incitement of Melbourne anti-lockdown protests

Police say five samurai swords have been found at the house of a conspiracy theorist leader who was dramatically arrested while “on the toilet”.

Five samurai swords have allegedly been found at the house of a Melbourne conspiracy theorist dramatically arrested on Friday morning over inciting an illegal protest.

James Bartolo, 27, claimed he “was on the toilet” when police arrived at his Taylors Hill home armed with a search warrant about 8am on Friday.

He refused to open the door and let them inside, so police smashed it open and tackled him to the ground to restrain him.

Mr Bartolo, who runs a website called The Conscious Truth Network and is a major player in the anti-coronavirus conspiracy theorist movement, is the latest to be arrested over allegedly inciting an illegal anti-lockdown protest planned for Melbourne’s CBD on Saturday.

Mr Bartolo live streamed his arrest on Facebook, which showed him arguing with police and claiming they didn’t have “authorisation to be on the property”.

Police assured him they did in a back-and-forth lasting about three minutes that ended when Mr Bartolo was tackled to the ground and handcuffed inside his living room.

Police enter James Bartolo’s home.

He argued with police from his upstairs balcony until they smashed down the door.

“Open the door or we’ll force it,” one of the detectives can be heard saying in the footage.

“You said you’re coming down, you’re not.”

Police could also be heard yelling “stop resisting” as he was arrested.

Police confirmed they searched the property and seized several mobile phones and laptops as well as five samurai swords.

A police source told NCA NewsWire the alleged weapons find showed “why it was so important when we go into a house that we handcuff someone while the premises is secured”.

Mr Bartolo claimed police were illegally trespassing and he would press charges if they entered as he argued with them from his upstairs balcony.

He also claimed he told people not to go to the protest, which is at odds with his latest Facebook post that says: “5th of sep protest go ahead.”

Mr Bartolo claimed police were illegally trespassing.

He also created a poll asking his followers if it should be held on another day and voted himself to postpone the protest.

Mr Bartolo has since been charged with incitement, possession of prohibited weapons and two counts of resisting police. He was bailed to face court in May next year.

Mr Bartolo has previously uploaded a video of himself arguing with officers for 20 minutes at one of Melbourne’s coronavirus roadblocks about whether their actions were legal.

He previously encouraged Melburnians in stage 3 lockdown to breach checkpoints, arguing they are a violation of human rights.

He was arrested over alleged incitement on Friday.

He regularly shares videos claiming the pandemic is a hoax and questioning whether COVID-19 is actually infectious, as well as pushing 5G conspiracies.

The Conscious Truth Network Facebook page has more than 4000 followers.

Assistant Commissioner Luke Cornelius said on Thursday police had so far charged four people with incitement over Saturday’s planned protest, including pregnant Miners Rest woman Zoe Buhler, reality TV contestant turned conspiracist Fanos Panayides and 76-year-old Windsor man Solihin Millin twice.

Mr Cornelius said anyone who left home to protest would be fined and arrested if they failed to comply with police directions.

Those charged with incitement face court-imposed fines of up to $20,000.

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