Man arrested after allegedly inciting racist violence at Cronulla beach following Bondi terror attack

A man has been arrested after allegedly attempting to incite racial violence at Cronulla beach following the Bondi beach terrorist attack.

Police arrested a 20-year-old man at Narara, on the New South Wales Central Coast, at about 1.40pm on Sunday. He has since been charged with using a carriage service to menace, harass, offend and publicly threaten violence on grounds of race or religion.

Police said on Monday the charges related to a “violent call to action” on social media, in which protesters were urged to gather at a beach in Sydney’s south later in the week.

A post circulating online had called for “wog” and “Middle East” bashing at Cronulla beach on Sunday, 20 years since the race-fuelled riots at the same location.

More than 100 people were arrested during the 11 December, 2005 riots, which followed a text message circulating among locals that called on “Aussies” to show “Lebs and wogs” they weren’t welcome after growing tensions at the beach.

Investigators became aware of the alleged posts the day after the Bondi massacre, during which 15 people were killed by two gunmen apparently inspired by Islamic State ideology.

The 20-year-old man has been denied bail and will appear in court on Monday.

Police alleged the organiser of the event later this week did not obtain authorisation for the rally, adding that anyone considering violence, retribution or vigilante behaviour could expect a swift and decisive response from authorities.

“While the NSW Police Force recognises people may want to protest due to recent events both here and overseas, we are asking the community to choose other ways to come together peacefully,” police said in a statement.

NSW Premier Chris Minns previously said the planned Cronulla rally would be met with the full force of the law and there would be no tolerance for any acts of retribution following the Bondi massacre.

In a press conference on Monday, Minns said the man had been arrested in relation to allegedly “organising a violent protest down at Cronulla beach”.

“I want to make it absolutely clear that anyone who is interested in whipping up racial hatred or violence or disunity in our community will be smashed by NSW Police. There is zero tolerance for it right now.”