Australian Defence League leader Ralph Cerminara refused bail over Lakemba brawl
Updated
Two members of an anti-Muslim extremist group have been refused bail after being charged over inciting a brawl in Sydney's south-west last night.
Ralph Cerminara, 36, who is the leader of the Australian Defence League (ADL) and another member of the group, Zane Commins, 19, have been charged with affray and behaving in an offensive manner.
It is alleged the pair went to Lakemba on Monday night where witnesses said they taunted locals with religious slurs and started a brawl.
Two men suffered minor injuries in the brawl while an officer sustained fractures to his left shoulder and is undergoing hospital treatment.
In court on Tuesday afternoon the pair was refused bail, with Justice Les Brennan not mincing his words.
"The last thing this community needs, bearing in mind what's happened in recent days, is boofheads like this stirring up a certain section of the community," Justice Brennan said.
Community leader Hakan Harman said the ADL was a fringe group that should be ignored.
"[We should] concentrate on the 99.99 per cent of all of the positive that's around us, and really not be giving voice, giving air, to these extremes," he said.
Police superintendent Michael McLean said groups like the ADL were "keyboard warriors", adding there were very few people attached to them.
A 43-year-old man from Wiley Park, who is not an ADL member, has been granted bail after also being charged with affray and resist or hinder police in the execution of duty.
Topics: courts-and-trials, law-crime-and-justice, lakemba-2195
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