A construction worker who allegedly threatened to kill four Jewish teenagers if they did not hide their Israeli flag has been charged with stalking and intimidation – as his identity can be revealed for the first time.
Abdullah Al-taay, 23, was charged with stalking/intimidation with intent to cause bodily harm after allegedly threatening to kill four Jewish teenagers who were holding an Israeli flag in the exclusive Sydney suburb of Bellevue Hill at around 6.30pm on Monday.
He was granted bail on Thursday on the condition that he not enter Sydney’s eastern suburbs, home to many Jewish communities.
Footage of the confrontational incident allegedly shows Al-Taay – who is wearing an orange high-vis vest and a black cap – marching up to four teenage boys who were about to tie an Israeli flag to their car.
He points the finger at them and repeatedly tells them to ‘put him back in the car’.
‘I swear if I see you with that flag I will kill you all. I’m telling you now — all of you,” he says.
Abdullah Al-taay (pictured, left), 23, was charged with stalking/intimidation with intent to fear bodily harm after allegedly threatening to kill four Jewish teenagers who were holding an Israeli flag in the exclusive Sydney suburb of Bellevue Hill on Monday around 6:30 p.m.
Al-taay appeared in Sydney’s Downing Magistrates’ Court on Thursday morning after being remanded in custody overnight after being arrested at Liverpool police station on Wednesday afternoon, where he was later charged.
He spent the night at the Amber Laurel Correctional Center in Sydney’s west.
Al-taay was released on bail on the condition that he not enter almost all areas of the Eastern Suburbs where many Jewish communities live.
“You must not enter any of these suburbs except for work purposes: Bellevue Hill, Double Bay, Woolhara, Queens Park, Bondi Beach, Bondi Junction, Watsons Bay, Randwick,” Magistrate Julie Huber told him.
She added: “You should not participate in any rally or protest.”
Defense lawyer Elie Srour of the Criminal Law Group said Al-taay agreed to the bail conditions.
“He is willing to comply with all the conditions, he spent the night in custody for the first time and he knows what will happen if he violates those conditions,” Srour said.
Al-taay’s next court appearance is on October 27.
Al-taay (pictured) was granted bail on the condition that he not enter almost all areas of the Eastern Suburbs where many Jewish communities live
Al-taay grew up in south-west Sydney, where he is believed to have attended Campbelltown School of Performing Arts.
His Facebook cover photo is the flag of Palestine seen through a pair of hands clasped in a love heart.
The alleged Al-Taay blast happened on the same day pro-Palestinian protests in Sydney’s CBD turned ugly, with thugs chanting ‘gas the Jews’ and ‘death to the Jews’ in the shadow of the Opera House.
About 1,000 protesters gathered at Sydney Town Hall on Monday night for a Free Palestine rally in the wake of renewed violence between Palestine and Israel.
The rally began with various chants including “Resistance is justified when Palestine is occupied”, “Israel, Israel you cannot hide that you are committing genocide” and “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”.
Footage of the confrontational incident shows the man (pictured) – who is wearing an orange vest, a black cap and appears to be of Middle Eastern origin – marching up to three teenage boys who appeared to be about to tie a The Israeli flag on their car in Bellevue Hill, in Sydney’s eastern suburbs
The disturbing video came hours before a pro-Palestinian protest was hijacked by radical Muslims on Monday night – some wearing black masks – who threw flares at police and chanted “f*** Israel” and “f*** the Jews” down. the steps of the Opera House (pictured)
Daily Mail Australia witnessed a large crowd of men attempting to light the Israeli flag with firecrackers before they began stamping on it and tearing it to pieces (pictures)
But police swung into action when a man, who has since been identified as Sydney businessman Mark Spiro, held up an Israeli flag – which he had not even unfurled – before being dragged away by three police officers.
In a video of the incident, filmed by Daily Mail Australia, Mr Spiro is heard repeatedly saying “I’ve done nothing wrong”.
An officer told him: ‘You have been arrested in connection with a breach of the peace.’
On Tuesday morning, NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Tony Cooke defended the decision to arrest Mr Spiro, claiming his presence “could have caused significant danger to himself and others”.
“I understand his point… (but) it was necessary,” Mr Cooke said.
“Under the circumstances, the best option for us was to take the actions we did.
Protesters marched from Town Hall to the Sydney Opera House, chanting “Free Palestine”
Cooke added: “He was arrested to prevent a breach of the peace for his own safety. He was removed and released.’
Mr Spiro later told Sky News that he felt the officers’ actions were ‘excessive’ and that he felt like a ‘scumbag’.
“It was over the top and at the time having both arms stuck back because you had an Israeli flag draped over it was shocking and confrontational,” Mr Spiro said.
“The cops should be ashamed of themselves, frankly. I was an innocent bystander with an Israeli flag draped over it.’
In total, Daily Mail Australia witnessed three individuals attempt to hold an Israeli flag before being chased by protesters or arrested by police ‘for their own safety’.
Abigail Lane, 23, a social care student originally from Tasmania, had an Israeli flag with the word “peace” taken from her by police.
“A police officer came and grabbed my hands and said, ‘Why the hell are you going in there with that sign? What the hell do you think you’re doing?” she said.
The rally, organized by the Palestine Action Group in Sydney, saw a large number of pro-Palestinian activists gather at Town Hall in Sydney’s CBD before marching to the Opera House.
Israel’s supporters kept their distance, watching the show from across Circular Quay
I said, “I’m not Palestinian, I’m not Israeli. I’m just Irish-Australian and I don’t like that we’re stirring up hate here in Sydney. My sign said love not hate.”
“I don’t think fueling more anger and violence is the answer.”
Shockingly, NSW Police felt compelled to warn Sydney’s Jewish community from entering Sydney’s CBD on Monday evening over safety concerns.
There were scenes of chaos at the Opera House as the demonstration was hijacked by radical Muslims – some wearing black masks – who threw flares at police and chanted “f*** Israel” and “f*** the Jews”. down the stairs. of the iconic harborside venue.
Even, at one point, cries of ‘gas the Jews’ were heard.
Daily Mail Australia witnessed a large crowd of men attempting to light an Israeli flag with fireworks before stamping on it and tearing it to pieces.
Shouts of ‘Allahu Akbar’ (God is great in Arabic) and ‘death to the Jews’ were heard as some members of the crowd rushed towards the police barrier, waving torn pieces of the Israeli flag – despite rally organizers urging them to protesters to respect the police.
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