Advertisement

Anti-Islamic group stages 'beheading' outside Bendigo council offices

Members of anti-Islamic group United Patriots Front (UPF) have cut the head off a dummy and sprayed fake blood across the entrance to the Bendigo council office in a protest against plans for the Victorian city's first mosque.

Blair Cottrell, the group's leader, says the stunt was a "political statement against diversity dogma".

The video shows Cottrell and three others watching on as a man in a mock Arabic headcovering cuts the head off the dummy following a short message.

Cottrell said the dummy was not representative of any person in particular but instead represented "the innocent being mercilessly slaughtered by the faith of Islam".

The video shows Cottrell and three others watching on as a man in a mock Arabic headcovering cuts the head off the dummy following a short message. Photo: Facebook
The video shows Cottrell and three others watching on as a man in a mock Arabic headcovering cuts the head off the dummy following a short message. Photo: Facebook

The UPF, which describes itself as 'a nationwide movement, opposing the spread of Left Wing treason and spread of Islamism', has previously been part of rallies in objection to the incoming mosque marred by angry confrontations.

City of Greater Bendigo councillors last year approved plans for the mosque, a decision that has since been upheld by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal and the Victorian Court of Appeal.

Council members were in September escorted by police from a regular meeting after protesters began hurling abuse from the public gallery.

An image posted to the UPF's Facebook page shows the main members of the group.
An image posted to the UPF's Facebook page shows the main members of the group.

Heri Febriyanto from the Bendigo Islamic Association said the demonstrations and fierce objections to the mosque did not reflect the wider community's views.

"The majority of Bendigo supports us. We've always supported peace and harmony and we'll continue doing so," Mr Febriyanto said.

Morning news break - October 5