Thomas Sewell (Australian neo-Nazi)

Thomas Sewell is an Australian neo-Nazi, leader of the National Socialist Network,[1] and founder of the Lads Society. He is known for his association with other prominent neo-Nazis, and for controversial public stunts such as cross burning. In 2017 Sewell attempted to recruit the perpetrator of the 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings into the Lads Society.[2]

For other people named Thomas Sewell, see Thomas Sewell (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with Thomas Sowell.

Thomas Sewell
Founder of Lads Society
In office
2017 – late 2020 - early 2021
Founder of National Socialist Network
Assumed office
2021
Personal details
Other political
affiliations
Known forFounding Lads Society and National Socialist Network, far-right activism, neo-Nazism
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Thomas Sewell

In May 2021, Sewell was arrested by counter-terrorism police in Melbourne's east, and faced a Melbourne court over an alleged armed robbery in Victoria's Cathedral Range.[3]

Political views

Sewell is a neo-Nazi.[1] He is associated with a number of other well known far-right neo-Nazi extremists including Neil Erikson of the United Patriots Front and the Lads Society of which he was a founding member.[4][5][6][7]

In 2017, Thomas Sewell asked Brenton Harrison Tarrant (the perpetrator of the 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings) to join the Lads Society, but Tarrant refused.[2]

Activities

Sewell has served in the Australian Defence Force.[5]

Sewell was the founder of the Lads Society, a now-defunct far-right white nationalist group,[8] and is the leader of the neo-Nazi National Socialist Network.

He has published content on encrypted messaging platform Telegram.[9]

Australia Day get-together

In January 2021, over the Australia Day weekend, 38 members of Sewell's National Socialist Network chanted "white power" and shouted Sieg Heil and other racist slogans at passers by. The group were photographed throwing Roman salutes and holding a cross burning — a ritual usually associated with the Ku Klux Klan — next to Lake Bellfield at the foot of the Grampians in western Victoria. The group's actions drew the attention of local police and intelligence officers from Victoria Police's Counter-Terrorism Command.[10][5]

March 2021: assault

In March 2021, a report on far-right extremism by A Current Affair was aired. An hour before the report was aired, Sewell and an unidentified accomplice arrived at the Nine Network office in Melbourne and demanded to speak to staff regarding the program. After being told to leave the premises, a physical altercation occurred between Sewell and a security guard after the security guard attempted to physically remove Sewell's associate (after detaining the film crew's property commanding him multiple times to not film on private property). The incident was filmed and later posted on social media by Sewell himself. The altercation drew condemnation from Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews who labelled it as "sickening".[11][12][13][14]

Victoria Police's counter-terrorism command charged Sewell with affray, recklessly causing injury and unlawful assault.[10]

Arrest and assault charges

On 14 May 2021, Sewell was arrested along with Jacob Hersant by counter-terrorism police at his home in Rowville, suffering an injury to his hand during the arrest. He faced a Melbourne court over an alleged armed robbery in Victoria's Cathedral Range.[3] He faces a number of charges in relation to an incident near the Sugarloaf summit. Hersant, Sewell and up to 15 other masked men violently attacked two passengers in a car and smashed windows. Sewell's DNA was found inside the car. He has since been released on bail.[15]

References
  1. neo-Nazi:
  2. Begley, Patrick (May 2019). "Threats from white extremist group that 'tried to recruit Tarrant'". The Sydney Morning Herald. Nine. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  3. Australian neo-Nazi leader Thomas Sewell faces court after arrest in counter-terrorism raid
  4. "Neo-Nazis go bush: Grampians gathering highlights rise of Australia's far right". The Sydney Morning Herald. 27 January 2021. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  5. "We do not need to wait for a Christchurch: Grampians cross burning spurs call for action". The Sydney Morning Herald. 28 January 2021. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  6. "How Australia's anti-terror regime has failed to rein in far-right extremists". The Guardian. 15 January 2021. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  7. "A Wake-Up Call: What's Being Done To Combat The Rise Of Far-Right Extremism". SBS TV. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  8. Lads Society:
  9. "Thomas Sewell". Telegram. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  10. Neo-Nazi group leader charged with assault of Channel Nine security guard
  11. "Premier condemns 'sickening' attack on Nine security guard". www.9news.com.au. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  12. "Neo-Nazi demanded to see journalists, allegedly bashed Channel Nine guard". The Age. 2 March 2021. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  13. Clench, Sam (1 March 2021). "Neo-Nazi leader allegedly assaults Channel 9 security guard". News.com.au — Australia's Leading News Site. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  14. "Neo-Nazi leader filmed repeatedly punching security guard at Channel Nine building". the Guardian. 2 March 2021. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  15. "Australian neo-Nazi leader Thomas Sewell charged over alleged armed robbery". ABC News. 14 May 2021. Retrieved 8 September 2021.

Further reading
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