Neo-Nazi Thomas Sewell is ARRESTED – after he lost it at Jacinta Allan during press conference
Neo-Nazi leader Thomas Sewell was arrested by dozens of police officers just hours after interrupting Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan’s press conference.
Officers arrested Sewell and two other men outside Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday following an eventful morning for the far-right figure.
On Tuesday morning, Sewell warned Allan she would be ‘punished’ if he ever gained power.
‘When people like me take power, these people are going to be punished for the crimes they have committed against Australia,’ he said.
Sewell then said ‘Heil Australia’ before being arrested by a group of officers.
He was seen smiling during the arrest.
Sewell and the two other men were interviewed in relation to an ongoing investigation into alleged assaults in King’s Domain about 5pm August, 31.
Sewell was among a group of men dressed in black who stormed Camp Sovereignty in King’s Domain on Sunday afternoon following the March for Australia rally in Melbourne’s CBD.
Neo-Nazi leader Thomas Sewell (centre) has been arrested in relation to the rampage in King’s Domain on Sunday afternoon
Sewell earlier confronted Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan at a press conference on Tuesday
Footage showed Sewell and Bull lashing out at people gathered at the camp, the site of remains of Indigenous people from 38 clans.
Indigenous Australians Minister Malarndirri McCarthy said the attack on Camp Sovereignty was like nothing she had seen in her nearly 10-year parliamentary career.
‘These people brazenly and openly did not care if they were seen,’ she said.
Sewell on Tuesday morning appeared inside the courthouse to cross-examine a police officer he is accused of intimidating, on top of charges for breaching a personal safety intervention order in October last year.
After a lunch break, prosecutor Melissa Mahady told the Melbourne court there’d been a ‘safety issue’ but claimed it was ‘not related’ to Sewell, the Herald Sun reported.
Magistrate Michelle Hodgson closed the court to discuss the matter with the prosecutor, meaning media and other observers were removed from the courtroom.
Earlier, Allan was speaking to journalists in Melbourne to spruik her government’s work-from-home policy when Sewell interrupted.
Flanked by supporter Nathan Bull, Sewell began yelling at Allan over her stance on the right to protest.
Sewell (front) on Tuesday appeared in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court
After interrupting the press conference, Sewell (left) warned Allan she would be ‘punished’ if he gained power
Several men stepped in to keep Sewell away from the premier as she, Treasurer Jaclyn Symes and upper house Labor MP Sheena Watt walked away.
‘Shouldn’t people have the right to speak in their own country, you coward … you’re a coward and we’re going to take this country back from politicians like you,’ Sewell shouted.
Allan in December announced legislation to ban protests outside places of worship and demonstrators wearing face coverings after Sewell led a series of marches with masked black-clad men.
The reforms are yet to be introduced to state parliament and may be scaled back.
Tuesday’s confrontation lasted less than a minute, cutting short the media conference.
Sewell ended Tuesday’s tirade with ‘Heil Australia’ and told journalists the interaction was a ‘coincidence’.
‘We’re on our way to court right now,’ he said.
In a statement, the premier confirmed she was ‘unharmed and undeterred’ and said it was no surprise Nazis opposed her and the Labor state government.
Sewell (circled on the right) and other members of the National Socialist Network stormed the First Nations protest group, Camp Sovereignty, at King’s Domain in Melbourne
‘We know how these goons operate,’ she said.
‘They whip up fear to divide our society. They will fail.’
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese labelled the confrontation ‘quite horrific’ when speaking to Labor caucus in Canberra.
‘I have been talking about these issues with the Victorian premier,’ he said.
Journalists were asking the premier about Sunday’s ‘March for Australia’ in Melbourne, at which Sewell was controversially allowed to speak.
Allan revealed she was convening the government’s anti-hate task force for a meeting this week in response to the nationwide anti-immigration rallies.
