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Australian neo-Nazi and convicted criminal From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Thomas Sewell (born c. 1993)[1] is a New Zealand-born Australian neo-Nazi activist and organizer,[2][3] known for controversial public stunts, violent criminal conduct and promotion of National Socialism.[4] He is the leader of the National Socialist Network, the European Australian Movement and founder of the Lads Society. The groups led by Sewell focus on promoting White supremacy and far-right activism in Australia.[5] In 2017 Sewell attempted to recruit Brenton Harrison Tarrant, the eventual perpetrator of the 2019 Christchurch mosque shooting, into the Lads Society.[6]
Thomas Sewell | |
|---|---|
Thomas Sewell being interviewed in 2018, prior to a boxing match with rival Neil Erikson. | |
| Leader of the National Socialist Network | |
| Assumed office c. 2023 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1993 (age 30–31) New Zealand |
| Political party | National Socialist Network |
| Education | Balwyn High School |
| Alma mater | Swinburne University (no degree) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Australia |
| Branch/service | Australian Army |
| Years of service | 2012–2014 |
Sewell drew public condemnation in 2021, after he attacked a security guard at a television office. In October 2023 he was sentenced to a prison term of one month and seven days, after attacking hikers at Victoria's Cathedral Range.[7][8][9]
Sewell was born around 1993[1] in New Zealand.[10] He moved to Australia as a young child with his parents and older brother.[11] He attended Balwyn High School in Melbourne, Australia, graduating in 2010.[11][12] Between 2012 and 2014, he was an Australian Army infantryman.[11][13][14] He then studied civil engineering at Swinburne University of Technology, but left without graduating.[11]
Sewell had a fiancée who was 36 weeks pregnant in January 2023.[15]
Sewell is a neo-Nazi.[2] He was a member of Reclaim Australia and the United Patriots Front (UPF) where he was Blair Cottrell's. second in command[16][5] Along with Cottrell he founded the Lads Society, a now-defunct men's only far-right, white nationalist group which branded itself as a fitness group.[4][17] Sewell is the self-appointed leader of the neo-Nazi National Socialist Network (NSN)[1][18][19] as well as the European Australian Movement (EAM).[2][19] NSN was established in early 2021, as consequence of a merger between the Lads Society and Antipodean Resistance.[20] Sewell associates with other well-known neo-Nazi, including Neil Erikson who has also been a member of the UPF and the Lads Society.[13][21]
Sewell is known for their violent promotion of National Socialism.[4] The organisations which he leads promote white supremacy and far-right politics. They echo White genocide myths, claiming that white Australians are being "denigrated, attacked and replaced with foreigners".[5] Videos leaked to the press in November 2019 revealed Sewell's aim was to attract and recruit members from mainstream society under the guise of a men's fitness club.[17][22] Sewell also appeals to "marginalized, underemployed young Australians in the fringes of society".[22] In the leaked material he outlined plans to create "Anglo-European" enclaves in Australian cities. Sewell's stated goal was to encourage the "speed and ferocity of the decay" of society and to help foment a "race war" by exploiting issues raised by politicians.[17]
In 2017, Sewell invited Brenton Tarrant (the perpetrator of the 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings) to join the Lads Society[6]. He praised the Lads Society's activism.[23] However, Tarrant refused to join as he would be shortly emigrating to New Zealand.[6] In an interview in which Sewell confirmed that he tried to recruit Tarrant he was quoted as saying that he would see violence against minorities as an option "if the state continues its persecution of our people for wanting to preserve their culture and heritage".[6]
In January 2021, over the Australia Day weekend, 38 members of Sewell's European Australia Movement were photographed performing Nazi salutes next to Lake Bellfield at the foot of the Grampians in western Victoria. The group chanted "White power", Sieg Heil and racist slogans at passers-by. The group's actions drew the attention of local police as well as intelligence officers from Victoria Police's Counter-Terrorism Command.[24][13]
On 1 March 2021, a report on far-right extremism by A Current Affair was aired. An hour before the report was aired, Sewell and Jacob Hersant, a neo-Nazi associate, arrived at the Nine Network office in Melbourne and demanded to speak to staff regarding the program. After being told to leave the premises, Sewell repeatedly punched a security guard in the face causing him to fall to the ground where Sewell continued to punch him in the face repeatedly. The incident was filmed and later posted on social media by Sewell himself. The attack drew condemnation from Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews who labelled it as "sickening".[25]
Victoria Police's counter-terrorism command charged Sewell with affray, recklessly causing injury and unlawful assault.[24]
In December 2022, Sewell contested charges of affray, recklessly causing injury, and unlawful assault in the Melbourne Magistrates Court.[26] He attended with several supporters, including Blair Cottrell.[26] Other supporters, including Neil Erikson, watched the proceedings online.[26] The following week, Sewell was found guilty of affray and recklessly causing injury.[27][28] On 12 January 2023, Sewell was sentenced to an 18-month community corrections order with 150 hours of community.[3][29] After being sentenced, Sewell performed a Nazi salute outside the courtroom.[30]
On 14 May 2021, Sewell was charged after a raid by counter-terrorism police at a house in the Melbourne suburb of Rowville. Sewell was charged with armed robbery, robbery, theft, criminal damage, affray with a face covering, affray, assault with a weapon, violent disorder, common law assault and committing an indictable offence while on bail. The charges concerned an attack on three hikers in Victoria's Cathedral Range.[9][8] Sewell and up to 15 other masked men attacked two passengers in a car and smashed windows. Sewell's blood was found inside the car.[31] On 1 August 2023, Sewell and a co-offender, Jacob Hersant pleaded guilty to one charge of violent disorder.[8] On 27 October 2023, Sewell was sentenced to one month and seven days in prison.[32][33] As he had already served the sentence, while on remand, he was spared further jail time.[32][33]
On 18 March 2023, Sewell attended a rally in Melbourne. He was with 30 other neo-Nazis, including members of the NSN.[34] The rally was held by British anti-trans activist Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull, while visiting the city on her Australian and New Zealand tour. Sewell and other members of the NSN marched down Spring Street, performed Nazi salutes on the stairs of Parliament House and referred to transgender people as paedophiles. A counterprotest in support of transgender rights, attended by many students, transgender activists, and socialists, clashed with the groups. While the police, including several mounted officers, attempted to separate the two groups, there were some interactions (many of which were violent), and it was reported that pepper spray was used at least once.[35] The events were condemned by the Labor Party,[36] and the Liberal Party.[37]
On Australia Day (26 January) 2024, Sewell and a group of National Socialist Network members were stopped and questioned by police in North Sydney. Sewell was served with a public order banning him from the city of Sydney local government area for the day, and from attending any events relating to Australia Day.[1] Police told Sewell that the reasons for issuing him with the order was "based on your ideological links, including your associates, your previous attendance and ideologically motivated public order incidents, your criminal history of assaulting members of the public and your goal of intimidating and provoking people".[38]
In August 2024, it was reported that Sewell was leading a cell of the Active Club Network in South Australia known as Croweater.[lower-alpha 1] Sewell was suspended from X in July 2024, but the Croweater page remains, featuring a photo of masked members carrying a banner reading "Australia for the white man".[40]
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