Cops charge neo-Nazi Thomas Sewell over attack on camp
Thomas Sewell has spent the night behind bars after being charged by police and remanded in custody. He is due to face court on Wednesday.
Neo-Nazi leader Thomas Sewell has spent the night behind bars after police charged him with a string of offences relating to an alleged attack on an Indigenous camp on Sunday evening.
Victoria Police has confirmed that the 32-year-old and two other men have been charged with affray and assault over the events at King’s Domain around 5pm on Sunday.
“It is alleged a group assaulted another group in King’s Domain,” police stated.
Sewell has been charged with violent disorder, affray, assault by kicking, discharge missile and other offences.
A 23-year-old Mooroolbark man has been charged with violent disorder, affray and assault by kicking, police said. He has been bailed to appear in court on December 10.
A 20-year-old Ardeer man has been charged with violent disorder, affray and discharge missile. He will also appear next in court on December 10.
Sewell was arrested on the steps of the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court in a dramatic development on Tuesday, after he had gatecrashed a press conference by Premier Jacinta Allan.
Detectives arrested the 32-year-old white supremacist and two associates — aged 23 and 20 — over their alleged involvement in Sunday evening’s attack on an Indigenous camp at King’s Domain in Melbourne.
Video of the arrest shows a man being held to the ground by police on the steps of the Melbourne Magistrate’s court as Sewell is bundled into a police van.
“Detectives from Melbourne Crime Investigation Unit attended Melbourne Magistrates’ Court about 3.20pm this afternoon,” police said in a statement.
“Officers arrested a 32-year-old man from Balwyn, a 23-year-old man from Mooroolbark and a 20-year-old man from Ardeer.
“They are being interviewed in relation to an ongoing investigation into alleged assaults in King’s Domain about 5pm on 31 August.”
The dramatic development came after Sewell gatecrashed Premier Jacinta Allan’s press conference on Tuesday morning, describing her as a “coward”.
The notorious far-right leader and white supremacist – who is facing a string of criminal charges in the Magistrates Court – had to be blocked from approaching the Premier midway through a press conference in a West Melbourne park.
“Hey, Jacinta Allan, why don’t you think Australians should have the right to protest?” he shouted.
“Shouldn’t we have the right to speak in our own country, you coward?”
The gatecrashing of the Premier’s press conference is likely to trigger a review of security around her movements.
Notification of the time and location of the press conference was issued about 6.45am to the press gallery.
Sewell said he had chanced upon the press conference while walking to the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court to face charges relating to allegations that he intimidated a police officer.
In a statement released shortly before midday, Ms Allan said: “I am unharmed and undeterred following this morning’s events.
“It comes as no surprise that Nazis oppose me and my government. I wear it as a badge of honour.”
Ms Allan said the gatecrashing wasn’t “about me”, but was aimed at threatening multicultural groups, Indigenous Australians and LGBTIQA+ people.
“They’re the Victorians who are on my mind right now,” she said.
“There is no place for hate in our state. Whoever you are, whoever you love, whoever you pray to – I’ll always fight for your right to belong.
“We know how these goons operate. They whip up fear to divide our society They will fail.”
Ms Allan could be seen walking away from the angry, black-clad Sewell.
Sewell also started shouting at Ms Allan that he would “take back Australia” and “Heil Australia”, Sky News reported.
Ms Allan, Treasurer Jaclyn Symes and MP Sheena Watt left the park during the rant.
Court records show that in addition to these charges the 33-year-old is also due in court on September 19 and October 27 to face separate criminal charges.
The alarming interruption came after Sewell appeared at an anti-immigration rally in Melbourne on Sunday, one of a series of similar rallies across the country.
His presence has been condemned by both sides of politics.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese branded the incident “quite horrific” when asked about it at a Labor partyroom meeting.
He added he had been “shocked” to see people openly wearing fascist-style uniforms at anti-immigration rallies held across the nation at the weekend.
“We need to call it out,” Mr Albanese told his colleagues.
Sewell has a history of being involved in violent confrontations and on Sunday evening led a group of neo-Nazis storming an Indigenous camp at Kings Domain, on the outskirts of the CBD.
Police have confirmed detectives are investigating the clash.
“Detectives are investigating the affray which took place at approximately 5pm (Sunday),” a police spokesperson said.
“It is understood a group of people were gathered together at Camp Sovereignty, located in Kings Domain off St Kilda Road when they were approached by a second group of people.
“Officers have been told the second group formed a line in front of the first group, before assaulting various members of the first group with sticks and flag poles.”
Sewell has previously described charges against him as “ridiculous” and likened them to “political prosecution”.
“Unless the prosecution plans to throw out this case, which is ridiculous, then there is nothing else to discuss,” Sewell told a court this year.
The white supremacist was charged with two counts of intimidating a police officer or police officer’s family member and multiple personal safety interventions.
Sewell faces potential jail time if found guilty of the offences.
The Herald Sun has reported that Sewell was accompanied on Tuesday at Eades Park by
colleague Nathan Bull, a National Socialist Network member, who has been investigated by police for performing a Nazi salute.
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