Balaclava clad neo-Nazis storm train, held by police
Six members of a neo-Nazi group have been arrested after dozens of men wearing black balaclavas and brandishing Australian flags swarmed a Sydney train.
A supplied image shows a group of about 40 men seen wearing black balaclavas and brandishing Australian flags at Artarmon train station in Sydney, Friday, January 26, 2024. Passengers have been evacuated after a group of men wearing black balaclavas and brandishing Australian flags swarmed a Sydney train. (AAP Image/Supplied by Transport for NSW)
The group of about 60 hooded men were seen at Artarmon station about 11.30am on Friday.
After boarding a train heading towards the CBD, the group was stopped at North Sydney station by more than 20 police officers.
“Officers boarded and contained the group of approximately 61 to a few carriages,” NSW Police said in a statement on Friday.
Passengers not involved with the group were evacuated.
Police said the group concealed their faces and were carrying shields and a flag.
Australian neo-Nazi leader Thomas Sewell was part of the throng stopped by police.
The 30-year-old self-appointed leader of the National Socialist Network was filmed being served by officers with a legal order banning him from attending any Australia Day events in Sydney.
The video, first posted by Sewell on his encrypted chat on Friday afternoon, was widely circulating across social media,
“You’re being served with a public safety order,” an officer tells Sewell in the video.
“I believe your presence in the Sydney City local government area poses a serious risk to public safety,” the officer adds.
“This is based on your ideological links, including your associates, your previous attendance and ideologically motivated public order incidents, your criminal history of assaulting members of the public and your goal of intimidating and provoking people.”
Sewell is then told to remain out of the Sydney City local government area or anywhere where an Australia Day event is planned until 11.59pm on Friday.
“So we’re not allowed to celebrate Australia Day?” Sewell asks the officer.
NSW Premier Chris Minns responded, saying “normal people don’t celebrate Australia Day with a balaclava on” in a statement on Friday.
“Due to great police work millions of Aussies were able to celebrate and come together without a potentially ugly confrontation.
“There is absolutely no tolerance for this behaviour,” Mr Minns said.
Six people were arrested and taken to Chatswood Police Station, where they are assisting police with inquiries.
A further 55 men were issued Rail Infringement Notices for offensive behaviour.
Two men have since been released and issued infringement notices for offensive behaviour.
The police operation concluded about 5pm.
Sewell, who defended the group’s right to attend events as “proud white Australians”, previously admitted to attacking a group of hikers in a Victorian state park in May 2021.
He was among a group of far-right National Socialist Network and European Australian Movement members who set upon a group of friends hiking in the Cathedral Ranges State Park.
On Friday morning, Sewell posted a photo of a recently vandalised statue of Captain Cook in Melbourne to X, formerly known as Twitter.
“A day before our National Day, anti-White scum cowardly tore down a Statue of one of the greatest sons of the Anglo Saxon Race – Captain Cook,” he wrote.
“We will respond, and the world will know, that there are White men in this land who are still worthy of being called – Australian.”
The New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies declined to comment.
AAP
