Man Arrested for Inciting Racial Violence at Cronulla Beach Following Bondi Terror Attack
A 20-year-old man was arrested at Narara on the NSW Central Coast around 1:40pm on Sunday and charged with using a carriage service to menace, harass, offend, and publicly threaten violence on grounds of race or religion. The charges relate to a social media post that urged a protest at Cronulla beach calling for violence against people described as "wog" and from the Middle East. The planned gathering came 20 years after the 2005 Cronulla race riots.
Investigators identified the posts the day after the Bondi terror attack, which resulted in 15 deaths caused by two gunmen inspired by Islamic State ideology. The man allegedly organized the rally without obtaining necessary authorization.
Police have warned that any violence, retribution, or vigilante behavior would be met with a swift and decisive response.
The arrested man was denied bail and is scheduled to appear in court on Monday.
NSW Premier Chris Minns stated that the Cronulla rally would be met with the full force of the law and emphasized a zero tolerance policy for racial hatred or retribution.
