AFP investigating nine complaints over Hezbollah flags at Melbourne rally
The Australian Federal Police is investigating nine complaints against protesters who allegedly displayed banned terrorist symbols during protests in Melbourne on the weekend and expects that number to grow.
Newly established Operation Ardvarna has been set up in Victoria to probe the Lebanon and Palestine solidarity rally, where some protesters waved Hezbollah flags and portraits of slain leader Hassan Nasrallah.
Hezbollah is a proscribed terrorist organisation in Australia.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.In a statement on Thursday, the AFP said the new operation was investigating nine complaints of “allegedly publicly displayed prohibited symbols in Victoria while potentially inciting or advocating violence, or hatred, based on race and religion”.
“The nine reports originate in Victoria and have been provided by Victoria Police (3) and to the National Security Hotline (1), Report of Crime (portal) (4) and proactive investigation into a media article (1) allegedly identifying an individual.
“It is likely the number of investigations will increase, and some state and territory police agencies have their own investigations underway.”
It comes a day after NSW Police charged a 19-year-old woman for allegedly brandishing a terror symbol.
In the aftermath of the weekend events, the anti-terror symbol laws - passed by the Parliament late last year - came under scrutiny for not being strong enough after the AFP conceded the “mere display” of a symbol like the Hezbollah flag was not enough to charge someone.
The AFP has also confirmed it would be providing support to state and territory policy agencies over the weekend, where a number of protests and vigils are planned to mark the one-year anniversary of the October 7 attacks.
In Melbourne, a protest is planned for Sunday, followed by a candlelight vigil on Monday.
Organisers of a vigil in Sydney on Monday dropped their legal bid to hold an authorised vigil at the Supreme Court on Thursday, but are awaiting a judgement on whether they can go ahead with a protest on Sunday.
The organiser of the Sydney protest, Josh Lees, said people should not bring Hezbollah flags to the weekend’s protests “because they could be deemed illegal”.
