From the SMH.

Neo-Nazis in race riots: police

December 12, 2005 - 9:57AM

Neo-Nazis are believed to have been among those who took part in the race-fuelled violence at Cronulla in Sydney’s south, NSW Deputy Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione says.

Up to 5,000 people descended on the beach yesterday as mobs yelling racist chants targeted people of Middle Eastern appearance.

Mr Scipione said police believed neo-Nazi and white supremacist groups were among the crowd.

“That in fact is something that we’re following up,” he told the Nine network. “Yes, that’s the advice we’ve received.”

One woman was pictured at Cronulla Beach holding a poster that read “Aussies fighting back.” Her photo appeared in a Sydney News Limited newspaper today. She was advertising a group called the Patriotic Youth League.

The group, founded by former Newcastle student and One Nation activist Stuart McBeth in 2002, described itself as a “radical nationalist” group, News Ltd newspapers reported today.

It has links to the German-based skinhead group Volksfront, British Nationalist Party and the New Zealand National Front, the paper said.

The group has campaigned for the deportation of immigrants and for keeping foreign students out of universities.

‘Real’ locals shocked

Diana Kontoprias, who runs a gelato bar near the beach, witnessed most of violence yesterday.

She told ABC Radio “real locals” were disgusted by the events.

“They were so embarrassed, so shocked of how the day unfolded,” she said.

“It was a disgrace, I don’t think anyone in the local area agrees with what happened yesterday.”

20 injured, 16 arrested

More than 20 people have been injured and 16 arrested as race-fuelled violence spread through Sydney’s beachside suburbs overnight.

But NSW Premier Morris Iemma says police are in control of the situation.

A series of apparent revenge attacks - including two stabbings - occurred overnight following the unrest at Cronulla, where more than 5000 people gathered yesterday.

Drunken mobs within the crowd yelled racist chants and chased down and bashed people of Middle Eastern appearance at the beach in an extended show of violence.

Police and an ambulance crew were also assaulted as racial tensions peaked.

A total of 25 people, including two ambulance officers, were injured, about 40 cars were vandalised and an Australian flag was burned during the mob scenes.

Police said 16 people had been arrested across Sydney and charged with 42 offences.

Mr Iemma today described the behaviour as “stomach turning” and said it would not be tolerated.

“I saw yesterday people trying to hide behind the Australian flag, well they are cowards whose behaviour will not be tolerated,” Mr Iemma told Channel Nine.

“That was the most disgraceful, disgusting behaviour that I’ve ever seen.”

Mr Iemma said he planned to bring together community leaders for discussions about how to prevent further violence.

Police had the resources and the equipment to deal with the violent scenes, he said.

Police were forced to use capsicum spray and batons in their battle to subdue the Cronulla rioters, who pelted officers with bottles and stomped on patrol cars.

Later, a 23-year-old man was injured and more than 40 cars smashed with baseball bats in an apparent revenge attack at Maroubra, in Sydney’s east.

A group of about 60 men of Middle Eastern appearance and armed with baseball bats smashed the windows of parked cars about 9pm (AEDT).

The group then clashed with local group, the Bra Boys, outside the Maroubra Bay Hotel.

A 23-year-old Maroubra man was taken to Prince of Wales hospital after he was stabbed with a sharp implement, believed to be a stick or nail, in the hip.

Later, a second 23-year-old man was stabbed in the back by a group of males, described as being of Middle Eastern appearance, at a golf club at Woolooware, in Sydney’s south.

He was taken to hospital in a serious condition.

Riot police were also called to Brighton-le-Sands, in Sydney’s south, overnight to control a group of about 200 brawling youths who had reportedly thrown projectiles at police.

Twelve people were arrested at Cronulla. They will face Sutherland Local Court at a date to be fixed.