A group of far-right extremists, believed to be neo-Nazis, reportedly made threats to abduct Australia’s Prime Minister following the Bondi Beach terror incident, as revealed by disturbing messages in an online chat. This led to two police operations being initiated after alleged plans to target Anthony Albanese and place explosives in mosques were exposed. A chilling conversation in an internet chatroom suggested a reward of £5000 ($10,000 AUD) for kidnapping Albanese with the goal of instituting a new “nationalist” government. The group behind this chat, consisting of far-right individuals, was formed by the organizers of a white supremacist rally known as March for Australia, protesting against what they perceived as excessive immigration to the country.
Leaked messages from the Discord group implicated a user named “cav” proposing the sinister scheme to the group members. “Cav” expressed a willingness to physically take action by forcibly questioning Albanese and even offered to rent a van for the operation. Another member of the chat purportedly offered “cav” a sum of £5,000 ($10,000 AUD) to carry out the plan. In a concerning message, “cav” indicated a shift towards terrorism, stating that seizing power through force was the only viable option.
In a subsequent development, another individual using the moniker “xertz” in the same Discord channel claimed to have interacted with law enforcement after discussing the creation and distribution of explosives to mosques. This person was eventually removed from the chat by moderators due to references to potential acts of terrorism.
Hugo Lennon, one of the organizers of March for Australia, denied any knowledge of specific threats against Albanese or mosques, affirming that their group did not endorse violent actions. Lennon distanced himself from the extremist chat, stating limited and sporadic involvement.
In a separate incident, plumber Nathan Ballesty, 27, was apprehended by authorities following an investigation into a social media post where he allegedly mentioned kidnapping the Prime Minister. Ballesty, known to associate with neo-Nazis and linked to the National Socialist Network, was identified in photographs from neo-Nazi gatherings.
Prime Minister Albanese acknowledged an escalation in threats during an interview on ABC’s Insiders, emphasizing the importance of ensuring the safety of all Australians. He expressed confidence in law enforcement agencies to carry out their duties effectively and vowed not to be deterred from fulfilling his responsibilities as the country’s leader.