Thomas Sewell (neo-Nazi)

Thomas Sewell (born c. 1993) is a New Zealand-born Australian neo-Nazi and convicted criminal. 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. He is known for associating with other prominent neo-Nazis and for controversial public stunts.

In 2017 Sewell attempted to recruit Brenton Harrison Tarrant, the eventual perpetrator of the 2019 Christchurch mosque shooting, into the Lads Society. In October 2023 he was sentenced to a prison term of one month and seven days, after attacking hikers at Victoria's Cathedral Range.

Early life and education

Sewell was born around 1993 in New Zealand.

He attended Balwyn High School in Melbourne, Australia.

Political views

Sewell is a neo-Nazi. He is associated with other well-known far-right neo-Nazi extremists, including Neil Erikson of the United Patriots Front and the Lads Society, the latter of which Sewell was a founding member.

In 2017, Thomas Sewell invited Brenton Tarrant (the perpetrator of the 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings) to join the Lads Society, but Tarrant refused. 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".

Videos leaked to the press in November 2019 revealed Sewell's aim to attract and recruit members from mainstream society under the guise of a men's fitness club. His White supremacist agenda was clearly shown as he outlined plans which included the creation of “Anglo-European” enclaves in Australian cities, encouraging the “speed and ferocity of the decay” of society to help foment a "race war" by tactics including exploiting issues raised by politicians.

Activities

Sewell served in the Australian Defence Force.

He was the founder of the Lads Society, a now-defunct far-right White nationalist group, and is the self-appointed leader of the neo-Nazi National Socialist Network as well as the European Australian Movement.

January 2021: Australia Day gathering

In January 2021, over the Australia Day weekend, 38 members of Sewell's European Australia Movement were photographed performing Roman salutes next to Lake Bellfield at the foot of the Grampians in western Victoria. The group also chanted "White power", Sieg Heil and racist slogans at passers-by. The group's actions drew the attention of local police and intelligence officers from Victoria Police's Counter-Terrorism Command.

March 2021: Assault

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".

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

In December 2022, Sewell contested charges of affray, recklessly causing injury, and unlawful assault in the Melbourne Magistrates Court. He attended with several supporters, including Blair Cottrell. Other supporters, including Neil Erikson, watched the proceedings online. The following week, Sewell was found guilty of affray and recklessly causing injury. On 12 January 2023, Sewell was sentenced to an 18-month community corrections order with 150 hours of community. After being sentenced, Sewell performed a Nazi salute outside the courtroom.

May 2021: Cathedral Range assault on hikers

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. 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. On 1 August 2023, Sewell and a co-offender, Jacob Hersant pleaded guilty to one charge of violent disorder. On 27 October 2023, Sewell and a co-offender were spared further jail time and sentenced to time already served.

March 2023: anti-transgender rights rally

On 18 March 2023, Sewell attended a rally in Melbourne. He was with 30 other neo-Nazis, including members of the NSN. 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. The events were condemned by the Labor Party, and the Liberal Party.

January 2024: Australia Day ban

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. 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”.

Personal life

Sewell had a fiancée who was 36 weeks pregnant in January 2023.

References

Further reading

• Koslowski, Max (11 January 2019). "How Australia's far-right were divided and conquered – by themselves". Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 11 January 2019.
• "'Screaming in terror': Man describes attack allegedly carried out by neo-Nazis". 27 October 2021.