Melbourne, Australia — Thomas Sewell, a known white supremacist and leader of the National Socialist Network (NSN), has been arrested and charged following a violent clash at a sacred Indigenous site in Melbourne.
The 32-year-old was detained outside the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday by multiple police officers and is facing charges including violent disorder, affray, assault by kicking, and discharging a missile. He was remanded in custody and is scheduled to face court on Wednesday.
Police say the arrest is connected to an alleged attack on Camp Sovereignty, a sacred Indigenous burial site at King’s Domain, during a far-right gathering on Sunday evening. Footage from the scene shows approximately 50 NSN members swarming the area, with physical altercations breaking out between the group and members of the public.
Sewell, who spoke at the anti-immigration “March for Australia” rally earlier that day, was allegedly captured on video at the scene. A photo appears to show him throwing a punch during the scuffle.
Victoria Police confirmed that detectives arrested three individuals — including Sewell — as part of an ongoing investigation into the August 31 violence. The other two individuals were identified as a 23-year-old man from Mooroolbark and a 20-year-old from Ardeer.
Sewell has a history of extremist activity and had also appeared in court in 2024 over allegations of intimidating a police officer.
In a separate incident earlier Tuesday, Sewell interrupted a press conference held by Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan, accusing the government of trying to ban protests. Security quickly intervened as Sewell shouted over the Premier, who later condemned the act in a public statement.
“Allan responded firmly**, saying, “It’s no surprise that Nazis oppose me and my government. I wear that as a badge of honour.” She reaffirmed her commitment to protecting communities targeted by hate groups, including First Peoples, multicultural Victorians, and the LGBTIQA+ community.
The incident comes just weeks before Victoria’s new anti-hate laws are set to take effect, aiming to crack down on extremist behavior and protect vulnerable communities.
