AFP charges three men with Nazi-related offences in national crackdown on extremism

The Australian Federal Police have charged three men with offences linked to Nazi symbols and extremist material. This forms part of a coordinated national operation announced this week aimed at groups that threaten Australia’s social cohesion.

These arrests represent one of the initial significant results from the AFP’s new National Security Investigations teams. These teams were set up in October by Commissioner Krissy Barrett to tackle extremist activities, especially after an increase in threats against Jewish and Muslim communities.

British national charged after social media posts
A 43-year-old British citizen residing in Caboolture, north of Brisbane, faces three counts of publicly displaying prohibited Nazi symbols and one count of using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence.
AFP Assistant Commissioner Stephen Nutt informed reporters that the man came under investigation in October. He allegedly used two separate accounts on X (formerly Twitter) to show the Nazi swastika and spread pro-Nazi ideology, with particular hatred directed at the Jewish community. On November 21, police carried out a search warrant at his home and reportedly found a sword with a swastika symbol, several axes, knives and other weapons. The man allegedly shared prohibited content from October 10 to November 5, even after his primary account was blocked by X.
The charges have maximum penalties of five and three years’ imprisonment, respectively. He appeared in Caboolture Magistrates Court on December 3, and the case was adjourned to January 7, 2026.

Second Queensland man charged after raid
A 21-year-old man from the Brisbane suburb of Manly was arrested on December 4 after a search of his home revealed banned flags and extremist literature.
Police allege they discovered violent extremist material on his phone during the search. He is charged with two counts of possessing violent extremist material, each with a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment.
The arrest stemmed from an investigation into the importation of prohibited symbols, where AFP officers seized two flags and two banned extremist books. He appeared before Brisbane Magistrates Court on December 5, and the matter was adjourned until January 16, 2026.

Sydney man issued court notice for Nazi salute
A 25-year-old man from Castle Hill in Sydney’s north-west received a court attendance notice after investigators executed a search warrant at his property on November 27.
The AFP claims the man performed a Nazi salute at a recent public gathering in Sydney. He faces one count of performing a Nazi salute in public, an offence that includes a mandatory minimum sentence of 12 months imprisonment under laws enacted earlier this year.
The search warrant was triggered by information from the Australian Border Force about 12 illegal flags shipped to the address from overseas. During the search, the man voluntarily handed over prohibited symbols and books.

Week-long national operation
The three arrests were components of a week-long operation that ended on December 4. It involved 14 separate disruption activities across New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia and Victoria.The operation led to the voluntary surrender of several items with prohibited symbols, drawing on intelligence from Australian Border Force regarding potential illegal imports.
Assistant Commissioner Nutt highlighted the AFP’s dedication to safeguarding social cohesion. “Some prohibited symbols can have chilling effects on individuals and can be viewed as a direct threat to someone’s safety,” he said. “Others promote racial hatred or racial superiority, or are associated with histories of violence.”
He added: “The AFP will not hesitate to take action against those who undermine Australia’s social cohesion, sovereignty and democracy.”

Rising extremism concerns
These charges occur against a backdrop of growing concern about neo-Nazi activity in Australia. In November, around 60 black-clad members of the National Socialist Network staged an antisemitic demonstration outside NSW Parliament. They displayed a banner reading “Abolish the Jewish lobby” and chanted Nazi slogans.
That protest prompted Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke to cancel the visa of Matthew Gruter, a South African man who took part in the rally. Gruter departed Australia voluntarily on December 4 with his wife and young child.
The National Socialist Network has also been trying to register a political party named “White Australia”. It claims to have exceeded the 1,500-member threshold needed for registration with the Australian Electoral Commission.

New legal framework
Australia’s laws banning Nazi symbols were reinforced in 2023 due to increasing antisemitism. In February 2025, mandatory minimum sentences were introduced for certain terrorism and hate crimes, including longer jail terms for displaying Nazi and terrorist symbols.
The maximum sentence for performing a Nazi salute was established at five years’ imprisonment, with a mandatory minimum of 12 months.
Commissioner Barrett created the National Security Investigations teams in her early weeks as AFP Commissioner, providing them access to Five Eyes intelligence. The teams have 41 active investigations and have charged eight people so far.
During a recent Senate estimates hearing, Barrett declared, “I could not be any clearer. Under my commissionership, criminal acts that erode the country’s social fabric by advocating hatred, fear, and humiliation will be investigated by very experienced investigators who have world-leading tools and capabilities.”
Police noted that the three charged men are not thought to be linked to each other, and authorities have not publicly released their names.