Police in Australia’s New South Wales state have arrested and charged a 36-year-old man suspected of publicly displaying tattoos bearing Nazi hate symbols at a popular beach in the city of Newcastle, about 150 kilometers north of Sydney. The investigation was launched after reports of a man seen with Nazi tattoos on the beach on Christmas Eve.
According to a police statement published on the Australian website news.com.au, the suspect was arrested at his home in the town of Urunga, south of Coffs Harbour, at around 6:30 p.m. on Saturday. He was taken to Coffs Harbour police station, where he was charged with knowingly displaying a Nazi symbol in public without justification, and with causing a prohibited Nazi symbol to be displayed in a public place.
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Man reveals Nazi hate symbol tattoos on beach in Newcastle, Australia
(Photos: Shutterstock)
The beach incident was described by local resident Ben Parsons, who said he encountered a man openly displaying tattoos associated with white supremacist ideology, including symbols linked to the Nazi SS. In a Facebook post, Parsons wrote that the tattoos were on full display in a public space frequented by many families.
He said the tattoos included references to “white supremacy” and the Nazi SS, which was responsible for grave crimes during the Holocaust. Parsons said he reported the incident to Crime Stoppers and provided photographs, and has since been working with New South Wales Police and a dedicated task force established to address antisemitic incidents following the attack at Bondi Beach in Sydney about two weeks ago, in which 15 people were killed during a Hanukkah event.
In his post, Parsons also addressed his decision to identify himself by his full name, saying he was not afraid to do so. He told news.com.au that “the time to fear Nazis ended on April 30, 1945,” adding that solidarity and unity are needed.
Public display of Nazi symbols has been illegal in New South Wales since 2022, and the legislation was tightened last year following a series of antisemitic incidents. The law defines a “public act” as including the visible display of symbols to the public, including tattoos.
The suspect has been released on bail under restrictive conditions and is due to appear at Newcastle Local Court on January 22, 2026.