A magistrate has labelled a young barber's alleged actions as "repulsive" after he was accused of trying to incite a race-based riot reminiscent of the 2005 Cronulla violence. Ryder Shaw, aged 20, will remain in custody after his application for bail was rejected in court on Monday.
Court hears details of alleged online incitement
Shaw faced court charged with using a carriage service to menace, harass, offend, and threaten violence on the grounds of race and religion. The charges stem from a flyer that circulated widely on social media platforms including Snapchat, Facebook, and TikTok. The post advertised a planned "bashing day" targeting people of Middle Eastern appearance, scheduled for December 27 at Cronulla Beach in Sydney.
The flyer's text read: 'WE RIOT. WOG/MIDDLE EASTERN BASHING DAY. SPREAD THE WORD AUSTRALIA! STAND THE F*** UP'. Police allege Shaw was one of the organisers behind the proposed event. The court heard the flyer was posted online while Shaw was in Queensland, where he lives with his partner and works part-time as a barber in Gympie on the Sunshine Coast.
Magistrate condemns 'Muslim hater' rhetoric
During the bail hearing, Prosecutor Felicia Lay argued Shaw should stay in custody due to the serious nature of the offence and the risk of further incidents. She emphasised the post was not merely hateful but actively encouraged participation by specifying a date and location.
Shaw's lawyer, Brian Quinn, argued for bail, noting his client had no prior criminal record. He proposed strict conditions including relocation to the NSW Central Coast, a ban from entering Sydney, limited social media access, and bi-weekly police reporting.
However, Magistrate Margaret Quinn was unequivocal in her refusal. "Inciting people to violence because of race or religion is repulsive," she stated. The magistrate drew a stark comparison, noting the Bondi attacker also had no known record. She pointedly added that the hero who disarmed the Bondi gunman was a Muslim man, stating, "This young man seems to be a Muslim hater. That is what his text suggests."
Magistrate Quinn ruled that releasing Shaw posed an "unacceptable risk" to the community, especially given heightened public tensions following the Bondi Beach massacre on December 14.
Police and politicians issue stern warnings
The alleged planned event sparked immediate concern from authorities, evoking memories of the 2005 Cronulla Riots. NSW Police confirmed the organiser had not obtained legal authorisation for an assembly, meaning anyone attending could face charges for obstruction and unlawful assembly.
In a strong statement, NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon urged calm and warned against retribution. "If people think they're going to engage in violence, they're wrong. The police will be there," he said, confirming a police presence at Cronulla on the scheduled date. NSW Premier Chris Minns echoed this, promising anyone planning violence would be "met with the full force of the law."
The social media post that triggered the case followed the Bondi mass shooting, where father and son Sajid and Naveed Akram allegedly murdered 15 people at a Jewish Hanukkah celebration. Police allege that attack was carried out in the name of Islamic State ideology.
Ryder Shaw, who runs a barbershop called Ryder's Chops, is next scheduled to appear in court on February 26 next year.
