Far-right protest disrupts Indian PM Modi’s visit to Australia
Consensus Summary
A far-right agitator, Hugo Lennon, disrupted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Australia by gatecrashing his Melbourne hotel after midnight on Thursday. Lennon shouted anti-Modi and anti-India slogans from a balcony around 12:30am, before being removed by police. He later led a small protest group to Marvel Stadium, where they hurled racist abuse for two hours. Modi arrived in Melbourne at 10.30pm Wednesday, hours before Lennon’s actions. Police confirmed a 22-year-old man also shouted political statements at the hotel around 12:30am and was moved on without incident. The protest was largely drowned out by Indian-Australian drumming groups celebrating Modi’s visit. Lennon’s actions are part of a pattern of far-right disruptions, including incidents during the 2025 federal election. The Australian Federal Police issued a warning to a young person who made a death threat toward Modi last week, with the source identified and spoken to on July 3. Lennon and his collaborator Mitch Hobbs organized the protest, with known neo-Nazis like Michael J Nelson involved. Security measures remain high throughout Modi’s trip.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Hugo Lennon, a wealthy property development heir and neo-Nazi associate, gatecrashed the Melbourne hotel of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi after midnight on Thursday.
- Lennon was dragged away by police from a first-floor balcony overlooking the hotel lobby around 12:30am on Thursday after shouting anti-Modi and anti-India slogans.
- Modi arrived in Melbourne at 10.30pm Wednesday.
- A 22-year-old man attended the hotel and shouted political statements around 12:30am on Thursday and was moved on by police without incident.
- Lennon led a small protest group from the Department of Home Affairs headquarters to Marvel Stadium, where they hurled racist abuse for two hours before disbanding.
- The Australian Federal Police issued an official warning to a young person who made a death threat toward Modi last week, with the source identified and spoken to on July 3.
- Lennon and Mitch Hobbs, a Melbourne stockbroker, organized the protest against Modi’s visit and Australian immigration.
- Michael J Nelson, a known neo-Nazi, was seen shaking hands with Lennon and Hobbs and is a One Nation fundraiser last month.
- Lennon’s actions follow far-right disruptions during the 2025 federal election, including a similar incident targeting Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
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Far-right influencer gatecrashes Indian PM’s Australian hotel, leads protest at event
A far-right agitator was dragged away by police after launching a late-night tirade inside the Melbourne hotel where the Indian prime minister was staying, hours before dozens of neo-Nazis gathered to protest against Narendra Modi’s visit.