Neo-Nazi boss Thomas Sewell was in business with Asian-born men
As more is uncovered about the leader of Australia’s neo-Nazi movement, it can be revealed Thomas Sewell was once in business with Asian men.
NSW
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The leader of Australia’s neo-Nazi movement was partners in a business with two Asian men and once worked with children at risk.
As the head of the Nationalist Socialist Network, Thomas Sewell has said he believes white people are superior to all other races, and demands his followers push for a “white revolution” where society is destroyed and rebuilt to the vision of Adolf Hitler.
Sewell’s Victorian-based far-right extremist group gained notoriety on Australia Day when about 70 of its members — clad in black military-style clothing, face masks and balaclavas — were involved in a tense standoff with NSW police as they attempted to stage a pro-white rally in the Sydney CBD.
But the New Zealand-born 30-year-old has not always held the racist views he now preaches. Business records show Sewell went into business with two Asian men in 2016. The company, known as Compass One Pty Ltd, was set up in Victoria that year.
Then-23-year-old Sewell was a director for five weeks in late 2016.
He acted alongside Chinese-born 22-year-old Dun Chu and 22-year-old Hong Kong-born Obie Chan, who were directors between 2016 and 2019, business records show.
A fourth man, who has gone on to be involved in several white supremacy groups with Sewell, also was a director.
Mr Chan and Mr Chu did not answer calls and the nature of the business is unclear.
It is not suggested they shared Sewell’s views.
The Saturday Telegraph emailed Sewell for comment on the nature of the business and his relationship with the other directors.
A person linked to one of the men, who asked not to be named, said Mr Chu cut ties with Sewell as his racist views became more extreme.
“They knew each other through bodybuilding and weightlifting gyms – they both did it,” the source said.
“But Thomas started changing and Dun didn’t want anything to do with him when he started getting more influenced by Blair Cottrell – and I know you’ve heard of that name,” the person said.
Cotterell is a 33-year-old Victoria based neo-Nazi who has formed several racist groups and has spent time in prison.
Sewell and Cotterell both had contact with Grafton mass murderer Brenton Tarrant before he killed 51 people in a New Zealand mosque in 2019. It is not suggested that either man knew Tarrant was going to commit mass murder.
Sewell is still associated with the gym scene, but, according to pictures on social media, he is using it as a training and recruiting ground for his white supremacy group.
NSW Police did not respond to requests for comment on whether Sewell was considered a genuine threat.
But a police source said: “It’s a really fine line between being an idiot and a legitimate threat to society.”
On the Australia Day weekend, police broke up three attempts by Sewell’s group to hold demonstrations in the Sydney CBD and north shore.
Police detained about 70 of the group at North Sydney Station on Australia Day.
Most of the men had their faces covered to hide their identities. Several did not.
They included Michael J Nelson, who appears in weightlifting pictures on social media with Sewell and other far-right extremists.
Another was the Sydney based member of Sewell’s operation, Jack Eltis.
Nathan Bull, who describes himself on social media as a “highly active NSN member” was also one of the few who revealed his face.
Sewell told The Sunday Telegraph his group had no violent intent and would retaliate only if they were attacked first.
“It’s obvious that this is a political tyranny,” Sewell said.
“That if you are Aboriginal or Jewish or any other fringe group of people you are allowed to celebrate your identity and allowed to celebrate your existence,” Sewell said.
On business records, Sewell listed his address as that of his parents, Anthony and Anne Sewell.
Calls to the home this week were not answered. It is not suggested that they share their son’s views.
In 2021, when Sewell was arrested for attacking a group of hikers, his father told Melbourne Magistrates Court he did not share his son’s beliefs and that the pair had a “cordial” and “normal” relationship.
Last year, Sewell was sentenced to just over one month in jail over the attack.
Documents tendered in the case reveal Sewell moved with his parents and older brother to Australia from New Zealand as a young child.
Sewell’s father described him to the court as “an above-average student” at Balwyn High School, where he “excelled” in sports.
He graduated in 2010 and joined the Australian Army in 2012 where he was stationed in Darwin.
Sewell quit the army in 2014 and worked in hospitality and security while studying civil engineering at Swinburne University, which he did not finish.
Between 2016 and 2018, he worked in residential care for children at risk, and at labouring jobs. In 2022, he established a roofing and plumbing business.
Sewell was also sentenced to an 18-month community corrections order with 150 hours of community service after he bashed a Channel 9 security guard in Melbourne in 2021.
The Australia Day confrontation marked a concerted effort by Sewell’s neo-Nazi movement into NSW.
The movement claims to be active nationally, but its true membership numbers and whether it is a legitimate or capable operation is unknown.
Prior to Australia Day, the movement has predominantly been confined to Victoria where members have given the Sieg Heil salute outside parliament and have intruded on public rallies for unrelated causes.
Police Minister Yasmin Catley praised the actions of NSW Police on Australia Day.
“Police did a brilliant job at containing these racist extremists and not allowing them to get to the CBD or any Australia Day events,” she said.
“It was robust, professional, uncompromising policing of a nasty group.
“Every one of these low-lifes who boarded the train last Friday were identified and photographed. NSW Police know exactly who they are.
“If they want to come back to NSW and try this again, they’ll be met with more of the same — full-force policing.”
Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-CEO Alex Ryvchin said the brazen nature of Australian neo-Nazis was of increasing concern.
“We have seen in the US and Europe the capacity for these groups to plan and execute violent attacks and for individuals associated with them to break away and carry out acts of mass murder,” Mr Ryvchin said.
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