‘Real and likely risk of serious injury or death’ if neo-Nazi released, police say

Neo-Nazi Thomas Sewell is likely to kill or seriously injure someone – or order one of his devoted followers to – unless he remains behind bars, police say.

Police allege Sewell is responsible for an attack on sacred Indigenous land that injured several people, as well as a string of other violent offences.

Detective Senior Constable Saer Pascoe told Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday the 32-year-old from Balwyn, who leads the National Socialist Network, had complete control over a large contingent of members, who would attack others on his instruction and without hesitation.

Pascoe said Sewell had orchestrated an attack on people at Camp Sovereignty in Melbourne’s Kings Domain on Sunday that left one woman needing staples to secure a head laceration and others with minor wounds.

He said Sewell represented an unacceptable risk to the safety and welfare of the public if released on bail. The neo-Nazi was dramatically arrested outside Melbourne’s Magistrates Court on Tuesday, during a break in proceedings for a case in which he is accused of intimidating a police officer and his family last year. Sewell is representing himself in the matter.

“Although they present themselves as a self-political organisation, they have a documented history of hate crimes and acting with violence,” Pascoe said. “They also have a documented and recent history of violence incited and instructed by Thomas Sewell.

“He is their leader and has complete control.

“It’s almost certain the applicant will return to committing offences [if bailed]. There is a real and likely risk of serious injury or death.”

Pascoe said Sewell was unemployed, had recently been evicted from his Wantirna South home and was staying between a holiday campervan and his in-laws’ Balwyn home with his two young daughters, aged two and eight months.

He described the National Socialist Network as a neo-Nazi political organisation with white supremacist and anti-immigration ideology.

In addition to being charged over the Camp Sovereignty attack, Sewell is also facing fresh charges relating to the organisation’s August 9 event, in which police allege 200 neo-Nazis, led by Sewell, marched through the CBD and Bourke Street Mall dressed in black, carrying banners and chanting.

About 12.45am, police allege a man ran at Sewell and spat on the ground near him before punches were thrown. Other National Socialist Network members then knocked the victim to the ground, pulled away a bystander, and kicked the man in the head. The victim was taken to hospital. Sewell has been charged with assault and committing an indictable offence while on bail over the incident.

On August 31, Sewell spoke on the steps of state parliament at an anti-immigration rally, which was also attended by other National Socialist Network members. There was also a counter-demonstration and the weekly pro-Palestine rally in the city, and groups clashed in the streets.

After most of the groups left, police allege a group of about 30 National Socialist Network members, led by Sewell, descended on Camp Sovereignty, a sacred site for the Indigenous community in Kings Domain.

The court heard Sewell had allegedly instructed the group to charge up a 30-metre hill towards the camp and attack occupants.

There, camera footage allegedly showed members attacking people, including holding two people down while another was kicked, while others were struck with a pole.

Sewell allegedly punched one man while fellow neo-Nazi Nathan Bull, who has also been charged, is alleged to have kicked another. One victim was allegedly hit while attempting to retrieve a drum that was damaged in the melee, while a woman was hospitalised and required staples to close a scalp wound.

Police are now working to identify at least 10 further alleged offenders.

Sewell was arrested on Tuesday and charged with more than 20 offences, including assault and violent disorder as the alleged main offender.

At the time, the court heard, Sewell was already on two counts of bail and facing charges of allegedly intimidating a police officer and his family, and breaching intervention orders, which he is currently contesting.

The detective said other allegations that remained before the courts include behaving in an offensive manner at the Eureka Stockade near Ballarat on December 3, 2023, and at the Chinese consulate in Toorak on October 26, 2024.

In providing examples of Sewell’s alleged escalating behaviour, Pascoe said the accused had attended a press conference held by Premier Jacinta Allan this week when he interrupted and shouted aggressively, resulting in Allan being extracted by her security.

“There is police intelligence regarding the NSN’s motivation and ideology. And they are very carefully watched,” Pascoe said.

Defence lawyer Matthew Hopkins appeared remotely from what appeared to be a house interstate, fighting reception issues throughout the hearing, and having to return using his mobile phone.

He said his client maintained his innocence and that during the Bourke Street Mall incident, he had been defending himself from an unprovoked attack. Hopkins also suggested the Camp Sovereignty attack had been provoked by the graffitiing of cars.

In pushing for bail, he said Sewell was not on bail currently for any physically violent offending and had a history of always attending court.

Hopkins then hit out at the police’s terminology, telling the magistrate his client had a constitutional implied right of political communication.

“I do note for many, many decades in this country there was a white Australia policy,” Hopkins said.

“[There is] an implied right to defend one’s political views.

“He will vigorously defend the charges against him. He will accept any [bail] conditions the court sees fit.”

Magistrate Donna Bakos said she would hand down her decision on bail on Friday.

“Am I allowed a book?” Sewell asked her as he was being led away. Bakos said she could not guarantee him access to a book in jail.

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