Members of the National Socialist Network, an Australian neo-Nazi group, staged two back-to-back rallies in Sydney over the Australia Day weekend but were since stopped by New South Wales (NSW) Police.
On Friday (Jan. 26), police stopped a group of men clad in black and balaclava masks associated with the neo-Nazi group on a train at North Sydney Station, while the group's leader, Thomas Sewell, was banned from attending any Australia Day events in the city.
According to the Daily Mail, Sewell and his group boarded a train at Artarmon station on Friday afternoon, local time, while chanting and waving Australian flags.
All passengers were evacuated and no one was understood to be hurt in the incident.
Police earlier arrested six members of the group and issued infringement notices for offensive behavior. Two of them have since been released without charge.
Another protest was blocked by police at North Turramurra on Saturday (Jan. 27), with Sewell given a public safety order extension, banning him from several parts of Sydney until midnight Sunday (Jan. 28).
Australian PM, NSW Premier Condemn Neo-Nazi Protests
In response to the act, New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said he would be open to strengthening laws against what he called "White Power salutes."
He added that police were able to slow down trains between Artarmon and North Sydney to allow officers from the Public Order and Riot Squad to intercept the group. More than 20 officers boarded the train and dozens more stood on the platform. Upon arrival at North Sydney station, officers removed the men.
"This menace was stopped before a very ugly confrontation on Sydney's streets. There is no place for this kind of fascism, neo-Nazism, or far-right extremism on this great day, Australia Day," Minns told reporters.
The state leader added that the behavior was not welcome in New South Wales, warning other similar actors that they would be met with "overwhelming force" from state police.
Meanwhile, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also joined in the condemnation of the neo-Nazi gatherings in Sydney, saying that he was "horrified" with the images of the group all covered in black.
"I don't want to see people in balaclavas, dressed in black from head to toe, who are engaged in neo-Nazi activity in this country," he added. "It has no place and it has rightly been condemned by all decent people."
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