Mark Collett fundraising for Aussie nazi who led attack on Indigenous Peoples’ camp

NOTE: This article was published on 3 September 2025Patriotic Alternative führer Mark Collett is today raising funds for a violent Australian nazi. On his social media accounts, Collett has published a financial appeal for Thomas Sewell, leader of the National Socialist Network, who is charged with leading a mob of fellow nazis in a violent…

NOTE: This article was published on 3 September 2025
Thomas Sewell leads assault on indigenous people’s camp in Melbourne

Patriotic Alternative führer Mark Collett is today raising funds for a violent Australian nazi. On his social media accounts, Collett has published a financial appeal for Thomas Sewell, leader of the National Socialist Network, who is charged with leading a mob of fellow nazis in a violent attack on an indigenous people’s camp in Melbourne.

Sewell was born in New Zealand but moved to Australia as a child. One of his closest political allies is Blair Cottrell, a fellow nazi who was mysteriously allowed into the UK to speak at a Patriotic Alternative conference last year.

Terror attack

Cottrell and Sewell co-founded the United Patriots Front in 2015 and a “fitness group” called the Lads Society in 2017.

Among those Sewell invited to join the Lads Society was Brenton Tarrant, who two years later carried out a terrorist attack on a mosque and an Islamic centre in Christchurch, New Zealand, killing 51 people.

Brenton Tarrant
Brenton Tarrant – terrorist and friend of Thomas Sewell

Last weekend Sewell led a mob of National Socialist Network members who charged into Camp Sovereignty, a protest camp in Melbourne that calls for the return of land to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Armed with pipes and large tree branches, Sewell and his nazis viciously assaulted several people including women and children.

Risk of serious injury

Today prosecutors in Melbourne opposed bail, warning that if left at liberty Sewell would continue to commit violent racist crimes and “there is a real risk of serious injury and death”.

Thomas Sewell kicks out in attack on the Melbourne camp

In response, Cottrell and Collett have begun raising funds online for their nazi terrorist comrade.

Cottrell wrote: “Tom is the sort of guy who will fight to the death for his friends, without any hesitation. If you were going to war, you’d be blessed to have Tom on your side.”

Serious questions

The Home Office now need to be asking serious questions. Why was Blair Cottrell allowed into the UK to network with fellow nazis?

And why is Patriotic Alternative still tolerated as a legal organisation when it has a long record of close association with terrorists?


Professor Colin Holmes

Professor Colin Holmes
Everyone who wants to understand contemporary racism and its historical background needs to read Searchlight.
Professor Colin Holmes
University of Sheffield

Paul Holborow

Paul Holborow

In the campaign against the National Front, Searchlight provided a rich and utterly reliable basis for much ANL propaganda – particularly with reference to the two leading NF figures, John Tyndall and Martin Webster. The appearance of Tyndall in full nazi uniform, drawn from the archives of Searchlight, was a key part of ANL propaganda, coupled with deeply damaging nazi quotes from Webster.

Paul Holborow
Founding member of the ANL and National Organiser 1977-81

Peter Hain

Peter Hain, founder of the ANL and friend of Searchlight

British Jews have been persecuted over the centuries; British blacks since the Windrush generation of the 1950s; British Muslims, especially after the Islamist 9/11 and then 7/7 terrorist attacks in New York 2001 and London 2005. But until the last few years there has not been a simultaneous threat against all three British communities of Jewish, Black and Muslim Britons – meaning the need for Searchlight has never been greater.

Peter Hain
Labour peer, former MP and Cabinet Minster

Nick Davies

Nick Davies

To investigate fascists takes real courage and unusual commitment. The government, police, mainstream media occasionally take a look, but in the UK only Searchlight have kept at it, relentlessly and admirably, regardless of threat or obstacle. It’s journalism that matters. A rare thing.

Nick Davies
Multi-award-winning investigative journalist and writer

Paul Nowak

Paul Nowak

The essence of trade unionism is solidarity, fairness and equality – for all workers – from all backgrounds. That’s why our fight against the far-right has always been part of our movement’s DNA. Searchlight is an incredibly important resource for trade unions and members to understand the contemporary tactics of far-right activity. Their work and intelligence gathering over the years have been incredibly insightful for the work we do, and how we fight the scourge of fascism.

Paul Nowak
TUC General Secretary

Alf Dubs

Lord Alf Dubs

Searchlight’s voice is more important than ever, and I am delighted that it will now be available to a wider audience than ever before in its new incarnation online. Searchlight has been extremely helpful over the years in exposing the far right, corruption, criminality and the murky links between organised crime and powerful interests in the UK and abroad. I wish Searchlight the very best.

Alf Dubs
Labour peer, former MP and Cabinet Minister, and Kindertransport child

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