Category: Operation Mealing

On behalf of New South Wales (NSW) Police, an independent biometric scientist has completed a forensic analysis of “significant volumes” of audio & video files of the pro-Arab Sydney Opera House protest that occurred on the 9th of October last year during an Israeli Solidarity Opera House Western Sails Illumination after the attack on that state by Hamas. They found no evidence the widely reported phrase, “Gas the Jews”, was being chanted throughout the audio & videos.

The analysis was done by Michael Wagner, honorary professor at the Australian National University and emeritus professor at Canberra University. He told The Sydney Morning Herald that the analysis of the 11 reported chants of “Gas the Jews” “has resulted in overwhelming certainty that all…consist of the phrase ‘Where’s the Jews?’.”

As a result of that examination, the expert has concluded with overwhelming certainty that the phrase chanted during that protest as recorded on the audio & visual files was “Where’s the Jews?”. Not another phrase as otherwise widely reported.

NSW Police Deputy Commissioner, Mal Lanyon

The footage purporting to play the “Gas the Jews” chant was first posted online by the Australian Jewish Association. However, NSW Police Deputy Commissioner, Mal Lanyon, clarified NSW Police did not believe the footage was doctored but had been incorrectly captioned. He also said some witnesses had reported hearing the offensive chant, but they had “not been able to ascribe those words to any individual”. Deputy Commissioner Lanyon also said there was evidence that other offensive phrases were said during the protest including the phrase “F–k the Jews”.

NSW Premier, Chris Minns, also said his views had not changed & the protest “was violent and racist”.

Hate speech and racist language have no place in NSW. If those comments were made about any other group, my reaction would be the same.

NSW Premier, Chris Minns

We know what we heard & the world knows what was said. However, the exact words used in these chants is not the core issue. The core issue is that on October 9, before Israel had even commenced its military response, just 2 days after the greatest atrocity inflicted on the Jewish people since the Holocaust, a mob of thugs gathered at one of our nation’s most cherished sites to celebrate the mass slaughter and rape of Israelis, to burn Israeli flags & to chant threateningly towards fellow Australians.

Executive Council of Australian Jewry Co-Chief Executive, Alex Ryvchin

Sydney Spectaculars can find no evidence that the pro-Arab protest “gathered” at the Opera House to “celebrate” but rather to protest the lighting of the western Opera House sails in the colours of the Israeli flag.

NSW Police said in a statement to The Sydney Morning Herald that detectives “continue to investigate the incident”.

In related news from a month ago, pro-Arab protester, Marcel Ghabbar, 31, has been spared conviction of his charge of 1 count of common assault, at the same protest as mentioned above, according to Mosman Daily.

At that time, a 45-year-old man, Anatoly Kirievsky, yelled “You’re all f**king terrorists” allegedly trying to agitate the Opera House protesters. He became involved in an argument with a male group. During the argument, amongst other alleged assaults by other protesters, Anatoly Kirievsky was then shoved by Marcel Ghabbar. Police intervened & the arguers then dispersed and left the Sydney Opera House. Anatoly Kirievsky then reported the alleged assaults to Maroubra Police.

NSW Police later released, on the 17th of October, closed circuit television images of 5 people, 4 male & 1 female, they believe would be able to assist with the investigation into the alleged assaults. Later that day, Marcel Ghabber attended Mosman Police Station where he was arrested & at 11pm, were taken to Day Street Police Station where he was later charged with common assault. The court case begun on November 8 last year.

On November 28, The Sydney Morning Herald reported that New South Wales (NSW) Police have sent a video, of the controversial pro-Arab protest that occurred at the Southern Forecourt of the Sydney Opera House on the night the World Heritage site was lit up in the colours of the Israeli flag in solidarity with that country after an attack on it by Hamas, away for “independent, expert analysis”, as part of Operation Mealing.

A NSW Police spokesperson told The Sydney Morning Herald that investigations into the alleged chanting of the anti-semitic phrase “Gas the Jews” at that protest were ongoing:

NSW Police are yet to confirm wording used during the October 9, 2023 protest. Investigators have sent a video recording for independent, expert analysis. No person has been charged with speaking the words “Gas the Jews”.

NSW Police Spokesperson

According to The Sydney Morning Herald, NSW Police did not confirm if the video of the protesters allegedly chanting “Gas the Jews” was the video that had been sent for “independent, expert analysis”.

Marcel Ghabbar and Justen Abdul-Khalek, both aged 31 & Omar El-Sobihy, 19, (pictured above) faced Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday, November the 8th.

Omar El-Sobihy’s lawyer, on his client’s behalf, entered into pleas of not guilty for his client’s 2 common assault charges & told the Court, he was seeking to view closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage captured of the alleged attack.

Marcel Ghabbar & Justen Abdul-Khalek are yet to enter a plea to their respective charges of 1 count of common assault each.

On the 17th of October, NSW Police reported they are investigating an alleged assault that occurred at the Sydney Opera House when the Israeli flag colours were illuminated on the World Heritage Site’s sails on the 9th of October at 7:30pm.

At that time, a 45-year-old man allegedly became involved in an argument with a male group. The man during the alleged argument was then allegedly assaulted and spat on. Police intervened & the arguers then dispersed and left the Sydney Opera House.

The 45-year-old man then reported the alleged assault to Maroubra Police. The next day, Operation Mealing investigators were notified & commenced an investigation. By 18th October, 3 men were charged with a total of 4 counts of common assault, who then attended Court as detailed above.

The matters are due to return to court on Friday the 8th of December.

At a New South Wales (NSW) Legislative Council Budget Estimates hearing on Tuesday the 7th of November 2023, NSW Police Deputy Commissioner, David Hudson, under questioning from Sarah Mitchell, a Nationals Legislative Councillor, confirmed that NSW Police wanted a counter-terrorism threat assessment before the NSW Premier, Chris Minns, made his final decision on whether to light up the Sydney Opera House blue & white in solidarity with Israel after the Hamas attack on that country.

NSW Police Deputy Commissioner, David Hudson, was the Acting Commissioner at the time of the Opera House Israel Solidarity Illumination on the 9th of October.

The (Police) Minister said this morning that it wasn’t envisaged that there was any heightened risk at that point. That was on the Sunday. Is that your recollection as well?

Sarah Mitchell, Nationals Legislative Councillor

Uh, that’s correct. Um, at the time I asked for the threat assessment, um, I wanted that to inform me whether we had concerns or not (faint chuckle), um, so at that stage I just wanted the assessment, I didn’t have particular concerns. I was aware that, um, other, uh — & that, that was in response to being told by the chief of staff that was consideration being made to light the sails of the Opera House with the Israeli flag, um, but, uh, at that stage, um, there were no concerns that had been relayed to me & I didn’t have the, the threat assessment from Counterterrorism at that stage, but, um, as I said, other, other icons around the world had been lit up, I was led to believe.

David Hudson, NSW Police Deputy Commissioner

So how did the police find out about the lighting of the Opera House
sails & in his evidence, the Premier said it may have been through the media? Are you-Do you know how that information made its way to the police?

Sarah Mitchell, Nationals Legislative Councillor

Um, my recollection is that after the threat assessment, assessment had been requested, it got processed through to my normal staff officer, um, who was in my normal role, which oversights counterterrorism, um, to request & he responded that “Too late. It was just on the news”.

David Hudson, NSW Police Deputy Commissioner

Ok so, so it was media reports that gave you the confirmation that that had
been the Premier’s decision?

Sarah Mitchell, Nationals Legislative Councillor

Yes. Well, I didn’t actually see the media reports. My norm-

David Hudson, NSW Police Deputy Commissioner

Your staff officer did?

Sarah Mitchell, Nationals Legislative Councillor

My normal staff officer did relay that through an e-mail.

David Hudson, NSW Police Deputy Commissioner

On the afternoon of Monday the 9th of October, NSW Police became aware that a protest to be held on Monday the 9th of October at Sydney Town Hall would now also include a march to the Sydney Opera House & that people who didn’t attend the Town Hall protest were also invited to show up at the Opera House protest too.

Later in the hearing, NSW Police Deputy Commissioner David Hudson, revealed that the Opera House protest had a reserve police force of 100 officers:

Um, in terms of the police operations on both the 9th of October & then also on the 15th of October, I know that the Premier, um, made some public comments saying that there would be more police available for a later rally that took place in Hyde Park, is my recollection. What-What’s the cost of the police operations to do that & the difference between what occurred on the 9th and the 15th? Do you have that information?

Sarah Mitchell, Nationals Legislative Councillor

Um, ma’am, only from the, uhm, cost of the actual police shifts that were deployed, I think there was 100 at the October 9th with another 100 in reserve, um, at the Opera House & then on the, uh, on the following Saturday, uh, so-the following Sunday there were over 1,000 police so their shifts — the difference would be significant.

David Hudson, NSW Police Deputy Commissioner

Commissioner Hudson then confirmed the announcement made following the protest to maybe utilise Part 6A of the Law Enforcement (Powers & Responsibilities) Act (LEPRA) 2002 was a direct result of the flare lighting and throwing at the Sydney Opera House protest & that extra police would be required if it was utilised:

The, the, the distinction between having 100 on the 9th and 1000 on the 15th – is that because of lessons learned from the, the Opera House protest or what was the operational decision to mark-significantly increase the police presence on that day?

Sarah Mitchell, Nationals Legislative Councillor

Um, we were going to, uh, potentially & we announced this — potentially, um, utilise, um, Part 6A of LE-LEPRA because of the behaviour that was demonstrated on the 9th of October & the difficulty in investigating potential criminal offences that had taken place on the 9th of October. We were going to activate part of that power under LEPRA to, um, ask for identification of individuals & potentially search some individuals because of flares that were used on the 9th, um, so, uh, it was, uh, believed that we would need additional police for that.

David Hudson, NSW Police Deputy Commissioner

Commissioner Hudson then confirmed that Operation Mealing now reports to Deputy Commissioner Malcolm Lanyon:

That Operation…Mealing now report directly to Mal.

David Hudson, NSW Police Deputy Commissioner

In a public assistance appeal, New South Wales (NSW) Police has released Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) images from the Sydney Opera House.

With inquiries still continuing, the images are of a man of medium to heavy build with short dark hair and beard & at the time, he was wearing spectacles, a black hooded jacket, grey pants, black shoes and a black and white scarf.

NSW Police wish to speak with this man as part of their inquiries:

The man featured in the images above is not involved with the alleged assault detailed below but with separate Police inquires.

On the 17th of October, NSW Police reported they are investigating an alleged assault that occurred at the Sydney Opera House when the Israeli flag colours were illuminated on the World Heritage Site’s sails on the 9th of October at 7:30pm. A pro-Arab protest at the time had already gathered on the site’s Southern Forecourt.

At that time, a 45-year-old man allegedly became involved in an argument with a male group. The man during the alleged argument was then allegedly assaulted and spat on. Police intervened & the arguers then dispersed and left the Sydney Opera House.

The 45-year-old man then reported the alleged assault to Maroubra Police. The next day, Operation Mealing investigators were notified & commenced an investigation. NSW Police later released, on the 17th of October, CCTV images of 5 people, 4 male & 1 female, they believe would be able to assist with the investigation into the alleged assault. All the men were described as being of “Mediterranean/Middle Eastern appearance” and wearing a white and blue keffiyeh.

The 1st man was described as being of aged in his 20s, of solid build & having tattoos on both legs. He was wearing black sunglasses, a white shirt, black shorts, long black socks & black shoes.

The 2nd man was described as aged in his 20s, of a medium build, had a moustache & was wearing a white shirt with both Aboriginal and Palestinian flags printed on it, black pants as well as black and white Vans.

The 3rd man was described as aged in his early 20s, of a tall build, with medium-length curly black hair and having a stubbly goatee & was wearing a white shirt.

The 4th man was described as aged in his 20s, of a medium build, with short black hair and had a black beard & was wearing a black tracksuit and white shoes.

The woman was described as Caucasian appearance with long blonde hair & was wearing a black hoodie featuring a red and yellow print, black leggings, long white socks and pink shoes.

2 31-year-old men then attended Mosman Police Station where they were arrested & at 11pm on 17th of October, were taken to Day Street Police Station. They were later charged with common assault & granted “strict conditional bail” to face Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday 8th of November 2023.

Following more inquiries, NSW Police then arrested a 19-year-old man in Roselands on the 18th of October, who was taken to Hurstville Police Station & was charged with 2 counts of common assault and granted “conditional bail” to also appear at the same Court on the same day as the other 2 men charged.

Inquiries into the alleged assault are continuing.

Anyone with further information that may assist Operation Mealing investigators is urged to contact Sydney City Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.