Australian police have been put on high alert at the nation’s airports after a Brit attempted to grab an officer’s sidearm during a terrifying struggle that saw the suspect being tasered and sprayed with pepper spray as cops tried to restrain him.
The incident occurred less than a week after a father and son duo went on a deadly anti-Semitic rampage at Bondi Beach in Sydney. Already shocked by recent events, Australians are being warned to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity.
British man charged with assaulting cop
On Tuesday, at around 5 pm, officers from the Australian Federal Police (AFP) were called to Melbourne Tullamarine International Airport to reports that a man was trying to get on board a plane without a ticket.
The officers arrived and found a British man acting erratically, according to a statement from the AFP. When they attempted to talk to the man, he allegedly lunged for one of their sidearms, sparking a desperate attempt to restrain him.
During the struggle, the officers tased the suspect and sprayed him with pepper spray as backup rushed to the scene to help restrain the man.
The suspect was initially taken to a local hospital for assessment before being transferred into police custody, where he was charged with one count of assaulting a police officer and three counts of obstruction.
On Friday, the man appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court, where he was remanded in custody until his next court appearance on March 16, 2026. If found guilty, the man faces a potential maximum sentence of up to 13 years in jail.
Public put on high alert to security threats at airports
The incident occurred just days after Australia’s worst mass shooting in three decades, after a horrific antisemitic attack on Bondi Beach in Sydney that has left the country reeling.
The AFP is now calling on Australians to be on high alert and to be particularly vigilant when passing through vulnerable high-profile targets like airports.
“Every piece of information you provide could be the key to identifying and preventing a threat at our airports,” the police force said in a statement. “That’s why the AFP is asking you to adopt the ‘See it. Hear it. Report it.’ approach.”
The police are urging the traveling public to report any suspicious behaviour, which includes:
- Anyone trying to avoid security screening.
- Someone displaying erratic behavior.
- Loitering without any clear purpose.
- Leaving bags unattended or attempting to conceal their identity.
Man charged with making mid-flight antisemitic threats
A day after the Melbourne Airport incident, an Australian man was arrested following allegations he made antisemitic threats towards a visibly Jewish passenger onboard a flight from Bali to Sydney.
The 19-year-old suspect was apprehended by the police as soon as the plane had landed in Sydney and was charged with threatening force or violence against members of groups or close associates.
The AFP reassured the Jewish community that there was “no current or impending threat to the community” following the man’s arrest. He has also held on remand until his next court appearance.
