A man who allegedly held up a Nazi swastika sign during a pro-Palestinian protest has been identified as prominent restaurateur Alan Yazbek.
The 56-year-old founder of Middle Eastern eatery Nomad Sydney in Surry Hills broke his silence on Tuesday evening, two days after he was accused of knowingly displaying a Nazi symbol in public.
Yazbek was pictured on Sunday reportedly holding a sign that resembled the Israeli flag, but with a swastika, the Star of David in the center and the words “Stop Nazi Israel.”
He and his wife Rebecca have been running the popular restaurant Nomad for over a decade and have expanded to two more locations in Melbourne, one also called Nomad and the other called Reine.
‘Many of us have family in the region. Every loss of life is a tragedy. We are in mourning,” Yazbek told the newspaper Daily Telegraph.
Those who attended the rally in Hyde Park in Sydney’s CBD had previously been warned by police against displaying symbols or flags of the terror group Hezbollah or photos of recently murdered leader Hassan Nasrallah.
About 10,000 people attended the rally, which, apart from two arrests, was largely peaceful.
Along with Yazbek, Jewish man Osher Feldman was arrested for allegedly breaching the peace in a separate incident.
Alan Yazbek (wearing a black cap and holding a sign) is pictured at Sunday’s protest in Sydney. Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting any wrongdoing by others in the photo
Mr. Feldman was later released without charge.
NSW Police told Daily Mail Australia that at around 1.20pm (on Sunday), a 56-year-old man was arrested for allegedly displaying a swastika symbol.
“He was taken to Surry Hills Police Station where he was charged with knowingly displaying a Nazi symbol in public without reasonable excuse,” a spokesperson said.
Despite the arrests, police were satisfied with the overall behavior of the estimated crowd of 10,000 people.
“NSW Police worked closely with our partner agencies and protest organizers to conduct an important and robust policing operation in Sydney’s CBD, which clearly had a successful outcome,” Deputy Commissioner Peter McKenna said.
Yazbek (pictured) has been charged with knowingly displaying a Nazi symbol in public
Yazbek’s bail conditions ban him from coming within two kilometers of City Hall in Sydney’s CBD, except to go to his restaurant and offices for work.
He will appear at Downing Center Local Court on October 24.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Yazbek for further comment.