A 20-year-old man has been arrested and charged by New South Wales police after allegedly using social media to incite racial violence at Cronulla beach, the site of infamous riots nearly two decades ago.
Arrest follows alleged 'violent call to action' online
Police took the man into custody at Narara on the NSW Central Coast at approximately 1.40pm on Sunday. He was subsequently charged with using a carriage service to menace, harass, offend, and publicly threaten violence on the grounds of race or religion.
Authorities stated the charges relate directly to a social media post they described as a "violent call to action." The post allegedly urged people to gather at Cronulla beach later this week for a protest involving the bashing of "wogs" and "Middle Eastern" people.
Echoes of 2005 race riots
The location is highly sensitive, marking almost 20 years since the Cronulla race riots of 11 December 2005. Those riots, which led to more than 100 arrests, were sparked by similar text messages calling on "Aussies" to confront groups of Lebanese and other backgrounds amid rising tensions at the beach.
Investigators became aware of the recent alleged post the day after the Bondi Junction mass stabbing attack, in which six people were killed by an assailant.
Police and Premier issue stern warnings
The accused man has been denied bail and faced court on Monday. NSW Police emphasised that the alleged organiser did not obtain authorisation for any rally and warned of a "swift and decisive" response to any vigilante behaviour.
NSW Premier Chris Minns was unequivocal in his condemnation. "I want to make it absolutely clear that anyone who is interested in whipping up racial hatred or violence or disunity in our community will be smashed by NSW Police," he said at a press conference. "There is zero tolerance for it right now."
Police have appealed for calm, urging communities to find peaceful ways to come together in the wake of recent traumatic events both locally and overseas.
