Man arrested in Bondi after reports of duct-tape vests examined by bomb disposal unit
Updated ,first published
A man acting suspiciously wearing a vest covered in duct-taped objects was arrested and the bomb squad was called as crowds mourned the Bondi terror attack.
A 33-year-old man believed to have recently arrived from Victoria will appear in court on Monday after being charged with offensive behaviour, drug possession and giving false information to police.
Officers from Operation Shelter, set up to reduce antisemitic and other hate crime activity, were called to reports of suspicious behavior allegedly involving a man wearing a vest wrapped in duct tape on Oxford Street, Bondi Junction, at around 10.10pm.
Police caught up with the man on Bondi Road in Bondi.
A search of his vehicle allegedly uncovered a second duct-taped vest, a face mask and a box allegedly containing banned drugs. The vests were examined by bomb disposal teams and were determined to be safe.
The man was arrested and taken to Surry Hills Police Station and will appear at bail court on Monday.
The arrest comes as the state government announced plans to give local councils more powers to target hate preachers and a local mayor accused the government of ignoring the problem.
Thousands of people gathered at Bondi Beach on Sunday night for the final day of commemoration in memory of the 15 people killed in the December 14 terror attack.
Robert Gregory, chief executive of the Australian Jewish Union, said members of the Jewish community faced police response to the vest-related arrest on their way home.
“We are pleased that the suspicious substance was found to be not visibly dangerous, but the entire Bondi community has been on edge since the Hanukkah attack,” he said.
The vigil marked the end of “shloshim”, the 30-day Jewish mourning period following the attack in Bondi.
The audience fell into deep silence as the artists sang a special rendition of the song. Matilda’s waltz It is dedicated to 10-year-old Matilda, the youngest victim of the attack.
Rabbi Yossi Friedman has kept vigil at Bondi Mansion three times a day, at 7:30 a.m., 1 p.m., and 7:30 p.m., since the first day after the attack.
A federal royal commission will be convened to investigate the circumstances leading to the Bondi attack, in which alleged terrorists targeted a Jewish celebration.
Former Supreme Court justice Virginia Bell will lead the national investigation. A report is due before December 14, 2026.
NSW Premier Chris Minns backed the federal royal commission but said the state may still need to conduct its own investigation into state-specific issues.
The Prime Minister this morning announced stronger powers for local councils to close illegal premises accused of hosting hate preachers and allow them to cut off public services if operators ignore planning laws and cease-use notices.
Canterbury-Bankstown Council issued a “cease use” order in December after finding that the Al Madina Dawah Center had never been authorized to be used as a place of worship.
However, a message posted on its locked doors on Monday emphasized that the center was “not closed”.
“We will temporarily suspend operations until the problem is completely resolved,” the message said, echoing a similar statement published online in December.
“This pause is purely to ensure full compliance with council requirements and obtain the necessary approvals.”
Following the discontinuation notice in December, Al Madina Group questioned the basis, timing and motivation behind the order.
“Al Madina Group rejects any attempt to conflate administrative or planning issues with allegations of extremism, national security or criminal conduct,” the group said in a statement.
Minns said on Monday there was no place for hate, intimidation or extremism masquerading as civic activity in NSW.
“These reforms give councils real powers to take action where premises are operating illegally and spreading division,” he said.
Fairfield Mayor Frank Carbone called the announcement “utter rubbish” and accused the state government of referring the issue to local councils.
“How can the council regulate hate speech? So it’s a police matter,” he told 2GB.
Carbone said house of worship zoning applications often receive so many objections that they somehow make their way to the state government panel.
“The other big problem is these venues can operate anywhere, they can operate at a local club, they can book venues,” Carbone said.
“Don’t try to claim it’s a council matter, because if you’re an unauthorized house of worship, what he announced changes absolutely nothing.”
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Jack Gramenz is a breaking news reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via email.
