A man is facing charges after allegedly promoting a violent event on social media, calling for a ‘bashing day’ in response to the Bondi Beach tragedy.
The controversial flyer, circulated across platforms like Snapchat, Facebook, and TikTok, announced a ‘bashing day’ set for December 27 at Cronulla Beach in Sydney’s south.
The flyer read: ‘WE RIOT. WOG/MIDDLE EASTERN BASHING DAY. SATURDAY 27TH DECEMBER 2025.’
It urged: ‘SPREAD THE WORD AUSTRALIA! STAND THE F*** UP.’
Although not directly mentioned in the post, it is believed the event was a reaction to the Bondi Beach mass shooting, where two men allegedly killed 15 individuals during a Hannukah celebration.
Following an investigation led by the Counter Terrorism and Specialist Tactics Command, police have taken 20-year-old Ryder Roy Shaw into custody.
Officers from ‘Operation Shelter’ – an team set up to curb further violence following the Bondi Beach attack – arrested Shaw in Narara, a suburb on NSW’s Central Coast at about 1.40pm on Sunday.
Shaw was taken to Gosford Police Station and charged with use carriage service to menace, harass, offend and publicly threaten violence on grounds of race/religion.
A flyer (pictured) advertising a ‘bashing day’ in Cronulla was shared widely online
Shaw allegedly did not obtain the correct authorisation for an assembly, making anyone who chooses to attend ‘not legally protected’.
‘The organiser has not obtained authorisation for the assembly under Part 4 of the Summary Offences Act 1988,’ NSW Police said in a statement.
‘Without this authorisation, the event is not legally protected as an authorised assembly and individuals who choose to attend may be liable for obstruction and unlawful assembly offences.’
While the public has a right to protest, NSW Police has called on the community to do so in a peaceful way.
‘The public are reminded that anyone considering violence, retribution or vigilante behaviour can expect a swift and decisive response from police,’ the statement read.
‘While the NSW Police Force recognises people may want to protest due to recent events both here and overseas, we are asking the community to choose other ways to come together peacefully.
‘The NSW Police Force will also continue to take strong action against anyone who engages in criminal activity that is motivated by hate.’
The social media post received a barrage of comments, with many condemning the apparent call to action.
NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon urged Australians to resist violence in their response to the shootings.
‘When I asked for calm, that is really important. This is not a time for retribution,’ Commissioner Lanyon said.
‘This is a time to allow the police to do their duty.’
Commissioner Lanyon added police will be at Cronulla on Saturday – the day the event is set to go ahead.
‘If people think they’re going to engage in violence, they’re wrong,’ Commissioner Lanyon said.
‘The police will be there, the police will take appropriate action, and I want to make that really clear – calm is what is required at the moment. Retribution is inappropriate.’
NSW Premier Chris Minns also weighed in on the ‘bashing day’, warning anyone planning to attend would be ‘met with the full force of the law’.
‘There will be no tolerance, no tolerance for any kind of retribution, or some kind of vindictive counterassault on anyone in our community,’ Mr Minns said last week.
‘We’re not going to allow ever a situation where we descend into some kind of lawlessness.
‘The last thing we need is a descent into vindictive violence. We won’t tolerate it in New South Wales.’
Shaw was refused bail and is set to appear before Gosford Local Court today.
