Man charged over Bondi Beach brawl
A 29-year-old man has been charged in relation to a brawl that broke out prior to a tense protest at Bondi Beach last Sunday.
Police said the clash erupted shortly after 8 a.m. on Sunday, 7 September, when rival groups were gathering for an assembly on the promenade and beach.
Officers from Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command were supported by the Public Order and Riot Squad, Operation Odin, and the Central Metropolitan Region High Visibility Patrol to keep order.
Photos released by police of the men of interest in relation to the brawl
The event drew hundreds of people, including pro-Palestinian activists staging a symbolic paddle-out and counter-protesters showing support for Israel. Shouting and insults soon escalated, and video footage shows a scuffle breaking out on the steps and sand. Police moved in to separate the groups and later appealed for public assistance, releasing images of men they said could help with enquiries.
On Friday, 12 September, detectives arrested a 29-year-old man at a home in Edmondson Park. He was taken to Liverpool Police Station and charged with affray and common assault. He was granted conditional bail to appear at Liverpool Local Court on 9 October.
The scenes at Bondi drew a strong political reaction. Premier Chris Minns condemned the violence as reprehensible and said political disagreements could never justify assault. Waverley Mayor Will Nemesh criticised the organisers for holding the protest without approval and described it as highly provocative given Bondi’s large Jewish community. Pro-Palestinian organisers said the event was intended as a peaceful show of solidarity and urged calm.
