A group of far-right neo-Nazis reportedly made threats to abduct Australia’s Prime Minister following the Bondi Beach terror incident, as revealed in disturbing group chat messages. Two police operations were initiated after alleged plans to abduct Anthony Albanese and place explosives in mosques were exposed. One chat record indicated an offer of £5000 ($10,000 AUD) to hire a van and seize Albanese to establish a new “nationalist” government. The online group, predominantly comprising far-right individuals, was formed by the organizers of a white nationalist rally opposing perceived mass immigration to Australia, known as March for Australia.
Leaked messages from the Discord group purportedly showed a user named “cav” proposing the sinister scheme to the group. “cav” suggested forcefully interrogating Albanese to extract information. When questioned by another member about the feasibility of the plan, “cav” expressed willingness to execute it and called for assistance in carrying out the abduction.
Another member of the chat allegedly offered “cav” £5,000 ($10,000 AUD) to carry out the alarming plot. In a separate message, “cav” mentioned crossing into the realm of terrorism, emphasizing the use of force as the only means to seize power.
In a subsequent discussion within the same Discord channel, a user identified as “xertz” claimed to have been visited by law enforcement after stating intentions to manufacture and dispatch explosives to mosques. “xertz” was later removed from Discord by moderators for discussing potential terrorist activities.
The March for Australia organizer, Hugo Lennon, denied knowledge of specific threats against Albanese or mosques and disavowed violence, stating his limited involvement in the server.
Following a separate inquiry into a social media post about kidnapping the Prime Minister, 27-year-old plumber Nathan Ballesty was arrested by the police. Ballesty, who has been photographed with neo-Nazis and is linked to the National Socialist Network, was accused of the alleged abduction scheme. Albanese acknowledged an escalation in threats, emphasizing his commitment to the safety of all Australians and his trust in law enforcement to address security concerns.