Neo-Nazi leader Thomas Sewell arrested after violent incidents at the “March for Australia” rally

On the afternoon of Tuesday, 2nd of September, the Neo-Nazi leader and founder of the National Socialist Network (NSN), Thomas Sewell, was arrested following his alleged involvement in leading multiple violent attacks. The 32-year-old man, originally from New Zealand, was seen outside the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court being handcuffed by police and put into a police van with two other individuals. He was charged with offences such as violent disorder, affray, assault by kicking and discharge of a missile.

The arrest followed the events that occurred on Sunday, 31st of August, where Sewell was one of the leaders of the ‘March for Australia’ rally. The rally against mass immigration occurred in many major cities across Australia, notably in Melbourne, where Sewell was a spokesperson for the ‘grassroots’ movement. 

Recent footage shows Sewell leading his NSN followers, all clad in black, into a street fight against counter-protestors during the rally on Sunday. In the video released by an NSN member, Sewell can be heard saying, “We’re just going to go down in a blob, we’re going to head down this road here, cross over the bridge and get to Fed Square.” 

Sewell then stated, “Now obviously there’s Antifa, they’re potentially going to try to ambush us on the way in. I don’t think they’re going to do s**t, I think there’s like 20 of them.”, before leading his group down St Kilda Road, where counter-protestors approached from the opposite direction. 

Before the two groups meet, one NSN member can be heard yelling, “Remember, one-metre rules. One-metre rule punch on. Let’s f**king go!”. 

The footage then showcases the violent brawl that erupted between both groups, the NSN members severely outnumbering those countering the protest. Sewell and his followers can be seen punching and kicking a member of the counter-protest group while they attempted to protect their head from physical abuse. 

The fight continued until police arrived and used pepper spray to separate the combatants.

Shortly after the rally, Thomas Sewell and a group of his followers made their way to a First Nations encampment site in Melbourne’s Kings Domain, Camp Sovereignty. The group, dressed in black and carrying makeshift weapons, violently stormed the camp, clashing with occupants and causing damage to the sacred site.

Krautungalung elder Robbie Thorpe, the Camp Sovereignty founder, told ABC News that the group targeted the women first, destroyed Indigenous Australian flags, and severely injured four people. Thorpe stated that “it was a very traumatic experience for them” and that they believed it to be an act of terrorism.

“[It was] organised and premeditated by a group of people who were talking about violence and hatred for our people and migrants.” -Thorpe

A recent video shared on ABC News shows the white nationalists approaching the peaceful gathering with poles and sticks before using them to attack those gathered there. Witnesses to the attack claimed that the group was chanting phrases such as ‘white power’ and ‘white man’s land’. While no one was arrested at the site, police have confirmed that the investigation is still ongoing but refused to answer questions surrounding their lack of presence at the gathering.

Thomas Sewell, however, was arrested Tuesday night for his involvement in both altercations. He appeared at Melbourne Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday morning to stand trial.

Detective Senior Constable Saer Pascoe told the court that he believed Thomas Sewell would continue to commit violent offences that could eventually result in fatalities if he was released. He emphasised that Sewell is unemployed and acts as the full-time leader of the National Socialist Network, allocating all of his time to his ’cause’.

“There is a real and likely risk of serious injury and death.” -Pascoe

Jonathan McCarthy, for the prosecution, furthered this discourse, saying that releasing Sewell on bail was a grave risk to the community as he has a predisposition to violence. He accused Sewell and his NSN of being a “racially motivated organisation that uses ideology to commit offences.”

Sewell’s defence lawyer rebutted the claims and argued that the prosecutor’s case was “loaded with subjective, almost political commentary.” He argued that the prosecution had no evidence to support their claims about it being a racially motivated ideology. 

Two other people were also arrested on Tuesday following the Camp Sovereignty attack: a 23-year-old from Mooroolbark and a 20-year-old from Ardeer. They were both released on bail until their court appeal on the 10th of December.

A decision regarding Thomas Sewell’s trial outcome and bail has yet to be determined, but Magistrate Donna Bakos confirmed she would let her decision about the bail be known on Friday morning. The matter has now been adjourned for a later hearing.