Police flooded Cronulla Beach on Saturday after a social media flyer advertised a “bashing day” targeting specific groups, sparking fears of a riot. The flyer, which read “WE RIOT, BASHING DAY. SATURDAY 27TH DECEMBER 2025,” quickly spread online and was seen as a potential retaliation following the Bondi terror attack.
Photos shared on social media showed members of the riot squad, mounted police, and the marine area command deployed to the hotspot on Saturday morning. Despite the heightened police presence, no incidents occurred during the day, NSW Police confirmed.
The Central Coast barber accused of organising the “bashing day” faced Gosford Local Court on Monday over his “violent call to action”. Ryder Shaw was charged with using a carriage service to menace, harass, offend, and publicly threaten violence on the grounds of race or religion.
Sutherland Shire Mayor Jack Boyd expressed relief that the alleged organiser would be in remand over Christmas. “I’m very glad to hear that the clown who started those posters will be in remand over Christmas, not down here enjoying the beach,” he told Nine News.
The incident comes after authorities warned of “zero tolerance” for protests following the Bondi terror attack. Acting Assistant Commissioner Brendan Gorman stated, “Everyone in NSW deserves to be safe and feel safe. Now is not the time for any behaviour that will cause division in our community.”
In response to the Bondi attack, police have been granted extraordinary new powers, with NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon issuing a declaration barring public assemblies across the entire Sydney metropolitan area for 14 days. Police can issue move-on directions for people causing obstructions or behaving in an intimidating manner, and may require protesters to remove face coverings for identification purposes.
