Jacob Hersant
Jacob Hersant | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1999 or 2000 (age 26–27)[1] |
| Organization(s) | National Socialist Network (2020–present) Antipodean Resistance (formerly) |
| Criminal status | Guilty |
| Children | Yes |
| Criminal charge | Performing a Nazi salute in public |
| Details | |
| State | Victoria |
| Part of a series on |
| Neo-Nazism |
|---|
| Part of a series on |
| Far-right politics in Australia |
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Jacob Hersant (born 1999 or 2000) is an Australian neo-Nazi and a prominent figure in the National Socialist Network and the European Australian Movement. He was the first person convicted under Victorian laws banning Nazi gestures, including the public performance of the Nazi salute.
Hersant has participated in violent conduct, notably a May 2021 attack on hikers at Cathedral Range alongside co-offender Thomas Sewell; the assault resulted in an August 2023 conviction of both men for violent disorder. However, they avoided further jail time following an appeal in October. That same month, Hershant performed a Nazi salute in public and was charged. At an appeal against his conviction, a county court judge ruled that Hersant was guilty, and on 4 February 2026, he was sentenced to one month in prison and fined $1000.
Early life and education
Jacob Hersant was born in 1999 or 2000.[1] He attended University High School in Melbourne. He is reported to have written on far-right Iron March forum "I was an edgy Atheist leftist gamer at 14, then I started playing a lot of Company of Heroes and that got me interested in World War 2. I always liked the Germans better since I have German heritage", and went on to write that after coming across the 2013 film Adolf Hitler: The Greatest Story Never Told on YouTube, "I've been a bad bad goy ever since".[2]
Activities
May 2021: Cathedral Range assault on hikers
On 14 May 2021, Hersant was charged after a raid by counter-terrorism police at a house in the Melbourne suburb of Rowville.[3] Hersant and a co-offender, Thomas Sewell, were charged after an attack on three hikers in Victoria's Cathedral Range.[4] Up to 15 other masked men attacked two passengers in a car and smashed windows.[5] After the windows were smashed, Hersant reached in and attempted to remove the keys from the car. A judge later described the incident as a "terrifying, intimidating and violent incident".[1]
On 1 August 2023, Hersant and Sewell pleaded guilty to one charge of violent disorder.[4] On 27 October 2023, Hersant and a co-offender were spared further jail time and sentenced to time already served. He was also sentenced to a 14-month community corrections order.[5][1][6] Following sentencing, prosecutors appealed claiming that the sentencing was manifestly inadequate.[7]
October 2023: Nazi salute
Following being spared of further jail time, in relation to his attacking hikers,[5] Hersant performed a Nazi salute outside the court.[8][9] After the act, he said "Australia for the white man. Heil Hitler, heil Hitler".[1] Hersant subsequently became the first person charged with making Nazi gestures in public, under new Victorian state laws.[10][11][12][7]
During the trial, lawyers for Hersant argued that the charge was not constitutionally valid as it violated the implied constitutional freedom of political communication.[13] On 8 October 2024, during a hearing in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court, he was found guilty of the offence.[14][15] On 8 November 2024 Hersant was sentenced to one month in jail and then released on bail after appealing against the sentence.[16]
Hersant's appeal was heard over three days in October. During the appeal, he argued that he had not performed a Nazi salute and, alternatively, that if he had, it constituted constitutionally protected political expression. At a hearing on 19 November 2025, County Court Judge Simon Moglia ruled that Hersant had deliberately performed a Nazi salute and that it was not protected expression.[17] On 4 February 2026, Hersant was sentenced to one month in jail and fined $1,000 for breaching the community corrections order placed on him and Sewell following their involvement in the Cathedral Range attack.[1]
July 2024: Train station protest
In July 2024, Hersant and 40 masked men entered a Melbourne train station, carrying a banner that stated "Mass deportations now". Following the event Hersant was arrested for "grossly offensive public conduct".[11]
Halloween 2024 Ku Klux Klan stunt
On 7 November 2024, Hersant was arrested for allegedly taking part in a Halloween stunt in which he wore a Ku Klux Klan costume. During the incident, he is accused of racially abusing members of the public. His co‑accused, Nathan Bull, allegedly wore blackface and a noose.[16][18][19] On 3 February 2026, Hersant appeared in court and requested an adjournment, as he expected to be jailed the following day in relation to another matter. Bull did not attend the hearing, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.[19]
April 2025: Anzac Day disruption
On 25 April 2025, Hersant was escorted by Victoria Police away from an Anzac Day dawn service in Melbourne following disruptions to a Welcome to Country. The shouting by the small group of far-right extremists was drowned out by applause by many in the 50,000-strong crowd, and condemned by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and other political leaders, as well as RSL Victoria president Robert Webster, many war veterans, and Sunrise TV host Natalie Barr.[20][21][22][23]
In September 2025 Hersant was charged with "behaving in an offensive manner while in a public place, offend against decency while in the Shrine of Remembrance reserve and taking part in a disturbance in the reserve". At a hearing in November 2025, Hersant indicated that he intended to plead not guilty to the charges.[24]
Views and associations
Hersant was formerly associated with the Antipodean Resistance and the Lads Society, along with Thomas Sewell.[2] He is known as a neo-Nazi, and figurehead of the National Socialist Network and the European Australian Movement. These groups promote white supremacy and far-right activism in Australia.[7][12][25]
In August 2021, in an undercover investigation by journalists, Hersant was recorded stating that Russian neo-Nazi Denis Kapustin "is a really good dude". Hersant was also recorded stating that he had put the Russian into contact with Jarrad Searby and that they were both into mixed martial arts.[26]
After his conviction in 2024 for performing a Nazi salute in public, he stated to journalists "I'm ready to go to jail, because I'm a Hitler soldier and what I'm doing is right".[27]
Personal life
As of April 2025, Hersant lives in Kensington, Melbourne.[20] He has a young son.[15][28]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f Pearson, Erin (4 February 2026). "Neo-Nazi Jacob Hersant jailed after failed salute appeal". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 4 February 2026. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
- ^ a b "Antipodean Resistance and the Lads Society". The White Rose Society. 24 July 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
- ^ Cucchiara, Sam (2021). "Neo-Nazi Thomas Sewell is 'prepared for and expects confrontation', court told". 9now.nine.com.au. Archived from the original on 3 August 2024. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
- ^ a b Pearson, Erin (1 August 2023). "Neo-Nazi leader pleads guilty to attack on hikers". ABC News. Archived from the original on 2 August 2023. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
- ^ a b c Sweeney, Karen (27 October 2023). "Neo-Nazi leaders spared further jail time over hiker attack". Nine News. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
- ^ Silva, Kristian (27 October 2023). "Neo-Nazis walk free from court, spared further jail time over attack on Victorian hikers". ABC News. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
- ^ a b c Silva, Kristian (23 April 2024). "'Counter-productive' to send neo-Nazi back to jail over Victorian hiker attack, appeal court rules". ABC News. Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
- ^ "Melbourne man to be charged with making a Nazi salute under new laws, police say". ABC News. 1 November 2023. Archived from the original on 3 August 2024. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
- ^ Taylor, Josh (27 October 2023). "Victorian neo-Nazis under police investigation over alleged salute for TV cameras". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 3 August 2024. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
- ^ Woods, Emily (16 January 2024). "First person charged over Nazi salute facing jail time". www.9news.com.au. Archived from the original on 3 August 2024. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
- ^ a b Wang, Jessica (28 July 2024). "Notorious Australian white supremacist Jacob Hersant arrested at Melbourne neo-Nazi demonstration". News.com.au. Archived from the original on 28 July 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
- ^ a b McKenzie, Nick; Tozer, Joel (16 August 2021). "Inside Racism HQ: How home-grown neo-Nazis are plotting a white revolution". The Age. Archived from the original on 16 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
- ^ Vallance, Syan (10 September 2024). "First-ever Victorian charged over making Nazi salute launches legal defence in court". ABC News. Archived from the original on 8 October 2024. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
- ^ Silva, Kristian (8 October 2024). "Far-right extremist who challenged validity of Nazi salute ban becomes first Victorian to be found guilty of new offence". ABC News. Archived from the original on 7 October 2024. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
- ^ a b Leanne, Wong (8 October 2024). "Melbourne man found guilty of performing Nazi salute to be jailed". ABC News. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
- ^ a b Pearson, Erin (8 November 2024). "White supremacist accused of Ku Klux Klan stunt while awaiting jail term for Nazi salute". The Age. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
- ^ Cosoleto, Tara (19 December 2025). "Neo-Nazi facing jail time after losing salute appeal". Canberra Times. Retrieved 19 December 2025.
- ^ Abbott, Lachlan (7 November 2024). "Neo-Nazis face charges after alleged Bunnings KKK harassment". The Age. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
- ^ a b Cosoleto, Tara (3 February 2026). "Neo-Nazi told off as magistrate denounces brazen racism". Yahoo News. Australian Associated Press. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
- ^ a b "Hecklers boo Welcome to Country address at Melbourne Anzac Day dawn service". ABC News. 25 April 2025. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
- ^ Liu, Summer; Wang, Jessica; Schmidt, Nathan; Packer, Clareese (24 April 2025). "Anzac Day services marred by wild booing, heated clash". news. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
- ^ "Anzac Day 2025 live updates – as it happened". The Guardian. 25 April 2025. Archived from the original on 25 April 2025. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
- ^ Parkes-Hupton, Heath; Brown, Natalie (25 April 2025). "'Cowards': Anthony Albanese slams hecklers who interrupted Anzac Day Welcome to Country". news. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
- ^ Beatty, Liam (17 November 2025). "Jacob Hersant, Nathan Bull and Michael Nelson: Trio to plead not guilty to Anzac Day disturbance charges". News.com.au. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
- ^ Oboler, Andre (20 August 2021). "'The Jewish community owes a debt to the mole who infiltrated the neo-Nazi network'". The Jewish Independent. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
- ^ McKenzie, Nick; Tozer, Joel (21 August 2021). "From kickboxing to Adolf Hitler: the neo-Nazi plan to recruit angry young men". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 20 June 2024. Retrieved 10 February 2025.
- ^ Leaving Hate. Four Corners. 17 February 2025. Event occurs at 8:18. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
- ^ "Victorian prosecutors seek jail time for far-right extremist Jacob Hersant over Nazi salute". The Guardian. Australian Associated Press. 9 October 2024. Retrieved 9 October 2024.