Anthony Albanese slams ‘evil forces’ dividing Australians after neo-Nazi march in Adelaide
Anthony Albanese has slammed “evil forces” seeking to divide Australians after 15 men and a teenager were arrested at a neo-Nazi march.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has slammed “evil forces” seeking to divide Australians after 16 people were arrested following a suspected neo-Nazi march in Adelaide.
The group, including 15 men and one juvenile, are believed to be part of the National Socialist Network and were arrested after marching through the CBD on Sunday.
Addressing the media on Monday, Mr Albanese said he was “shocked” by the march and that such groups are “attracting attention”.
“It’s a phenomenon, unfortunately, that we’ve seen in other parts of the industrialised world as well,” he said.
“There is no place for this hateful ideology here in Australia, or indeed anywhere else.”
The PM also called out the timing of the rally on Sunday which coincided with the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in Poland.
“That footage I saw this morning … I was shocked by that. These groups are attracting such attention … We need to call it out. That’s the first thing,” he said.
“There is, of course, some evil forces that seek to divide and seek to point towards people who don’t look like them or have the same faith as them.”
Video of the march showed the group carrying Australian flags and marching in black, and was not related to any of the Australia Day events in the city, police said.
In a statement, South Australia Police said the group had been charged with a raft of offences, including failing to cease loitering, possessing articles of disguise, and resisting arrest.
One of the men, a 25-year-old from Western Australia, was also charged with using a Nazi symbol, with the rest of the group ranging in age from 16 to 55-years-old.
Four of the men and the juvenile were from Victoria, three from NSW, six from WA, one each from Tasmania and SA, and two whose address was not known to police.
They are all expected to appear before Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas said the National War Memorial, where the march took place, commemorates residents who served in wars and conflicts.
“It is utterly disgraceful that these so-called neo-Nazis have come from interstate to protest in front of this sacred memorial that commemorates the exact thing so many South Australians fought against and paid the ultimate sacrifice,” he said.
“Racism and intolerance have no place in Australia.
“I utterly condemn the actions of those who seek to spread their hateful ideology in our community.”
Mr Malinauskas praised the “swift actions” of police in arresting members of the group.
The South Australian government last year banned the display of swastikas in public or performing a Nazi salute.
If found guilty and convicted, an offender could face fines of up to $20,000 or a year in prison.
The laws brought the state into line with most other Australian states and territories and the Commonwealth.
The rally comes amid heightened attention on alleged acts of anti-Semitism after multiple synagogues and Jewish sites were attacked in recent months in Victoria and NSW.
In 2021, ASIO director-general Mike Burgess warned that young Australians were being radicalised to support white supremacist, far right and, neo-Nazi groups in the country.
At the time, about 50 per cent of the spy agency’s domestic caseload was taken matters involving alleged neo-Nazi groups, Mr Burgess told The Sydney Morning Herald.
Underworld figure gunned down in street
A prominent gangland figure has reportedly been shot dead on a city street.
Is Aussie call-up next for newest BBL star?
He was an unknown batter from Tasmania when the BBL began, but while Mitch Owen could be eyeing off some big paydays, there’s one thing the star of the final might not get anytime soon.