A Broadmeadows man has been issued a court summons for allegedly waving a Hizballah flag through the streets of Melbourne’s CBD during a protest last year.
On February 6, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) served the 34-year-old with a notice for the offence of public display of a prohibited terrorist organisation.
The offence carries a maximum penalty of 12 months’ imprisonment.
The AFP will allege the man waved a Hizballah flag in the Melbourne CBD on September 29.
He was summoned to appear in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on March 19.
Assistant Commissioner Stephen Nutt said the AFP would not tolerate crimes that undermined Australia’s security or way of life.
“Investigators have reviewed more than 100 hours of CCTV footage, police body worn camera footage and vision taken at the Melbourne protest and will continue exploring every avenue to identify those involved.,” he said.
In December last year, the AFP charged a separate Melbourne man, 36, for allegedly displaying a Hizballah flag during the same protest.
In January 2024, the Commonwealth introduced legislation prohibiting the public display or trade in prohibited Nazi symbols and symbols used by prohibited terrorist organisations. The Hizballah flag is a prohibited symbol under the legislation.
In December 2021, the Commonwealth designated Hizballah as a terrorist organisation.
