UK man charged over alleged Nazi symbols as Australian police launch nationwide crackdown
Three men face charges after Australian police target neo-Nazi activity and threats against Jewish communities nationwide
Australian federal police have charged three men following a nationwide operation targeting the public display and circulation of Nazi symbols, with investigators citing specific threats to Jewish communities.
Among those charged is a 43-year-old British citizen living in Queensland, accused of repeatedly displaying Nazi imagery online and promoting pro-Nazi ideology, including advocacy of violence against Jews.
The charges form a part of a week-long operation led by the Australian Federal Police’s National Security Investigations teams, which focused on individuals and groups deemed to be damaging Australia’s social cohesion.
Investigators allege the UK national used two separate accounts on X to post the Nazi Hakenkreuz, promote Nazi ideology and express “a specific hatred of the Jewish community”, alongside calls for violence. Police claim the posts breached Commonwealth law on multiple occasions between 10 October and 5 November 2025. After one account was blocked by the platform, investigators allege the man created a second, similarly named account to continue posting.
With assistance from the Queensland Police Service, officers executed a search warrant at a home in Caboolture on 21 November, seizing a mobile phone and a number of weapons. These allegedly included swords bearing swastika imagery, as well as axes and knives.
The man has been charged with three counts of publicly displaying prohibited Nazi symbols and one count of using a carriage service to menace, harass, or cause offence. Each offence carries a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment. He appeared before Caboolture Magistrates Court on 3 December, with the case adjourned until 7 January 2026.
The wider operation concluded on 4 December and involved 14 disruption activities across New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia. Investigators reported the voluntary surrender of multiple items containing prohibited symbols, as well as the seizure of two flags and two extremist publications.
A 21-year-old man in Brisbane was arrested after police executed a search warrant at his home on 4 December following the importation of a significant quantity of flags and literature. A review of his electronic devices allegedly uncovered material classified as violent extremist content. He was charged with two counts of possessing or controlling violent extremist material and appeared before Brisbane Magistrates Court on 5 December, with the case adjourned until 16 January 2026.
Separately, a 25-year-old man from Sydney’s north-west was issued with a court attendance notice after police searched a property in Castle Hill on 27 November. He is accused of performing a Nazi salute at a recent public gathering in Sydney and faces a charge that carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 12 months’ imprisonment.
AFP Assistant Commissioner Stephen Nutt said the operation reflected a broader effort to counter intimidation, threats and extremist behaviour, particularly where it targets vulnerable groups. “The AFP will not tolerate any forms of intimidation, threats or calls for violence against vulnerable communities,” he said.
“We want to ensure these symbols are not being used to fracture social cohesion. If we identify instances where this is happening, we will act swiftly to disrupt the behaviour, prosecute those involved and protect the dignity, safety and cohesion of our diverse community.”
The operation drew heavily on intelligence from the Australian Border Force, which flagged imports linked to extremist propaganda. While importing such items is not itself illegal, a number of cases were referred to police for further investigation.
The AFP said its National Security Investigations teams, established in September 2025, were created to target high-harm activity undermining social cohesion, including the targeting of Jewish communities.
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