Man to front court after allegedly waving Hezbollah flag at Melbourne protest last year

A man who allegedly waved the flag of a prohibited terrorist organisation at a protest in Melbourne last year has been issued a court summons by the Australian Federal Police.

A man allegedly waved a Hezbollah flag at a protest in Melbourne’s CBD in September last year.

The AFP has now issued the 34-year-old with a court summons to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on March 19 over the public display of a prohibited terrorist organisation symbol.

The offence carries a maximum sentence of 12 months imprisonment if convicted.

AFP Assistant Commissioner Stephen Nutt said investigators had reviewed more than 100 hours of CCTV and police body-worn camera footage and vision from the protest and would “continue exploring every avenue to identify those involved”.“The AFP is relentlessly pursuing evidence and identifying those who allegedly displayed prohibited symbols at the Melbourne protest in 2024,” Mr Nutt said.

The fresh action comes after a 36-year-old man was last year charged with displaying a Hezbollah flag at the same protest.

The flag falls under legislation brought in last year banning the public display or trade of prohibited Nazi symbols and symbols used by prohibited terrorist organisations.