Police have charged a man after he allegedly posted violent and sexually explicit messages against a woman on social media, as part of investigations into reciprocal protests following a violent anti-Islamic film rally in Sydney.
The man, 38, is the third person to be charged over messages posted on a social networking site following the rally against the anti-Islamic Innocence of Muslims film in Sydney's CBD on Saturday, September 15.
Police said the man was arrested at a home in Williamtown, Newcastle about 2pm yesterday and charged with using a carriage service to menace, harass or offend.
He was granted bail to appear in Raymond Terrace Local Court on October 22.
A police spokesman could not say which social networking site the man used.
Police said they had been monitoring social networking sites following the establishment of Operation Waterman, a "high-visibility policing strategy" to maintain public safety in Sydney's CBD over the weekend following the protest the week before.
"People need to realise that by merely inducing or inciting others to be involved in violent behaviour, through social networks, is an offence that carries a maximum penalty of seven years in jail," Commander of Operation Waterman Assistant Commissioner Alan Clarke said in a statement yesterday.
On Friday, two men aged 20 and 21 were charged with recruiting persons to engage in criminal activity and printing or publishing to incite, urge or aid the commission of a crime.
The 21-year-old was granted strict conditional bail to appear in Downing Centre Local Court on October 12. The 20-year-old was granted strict conditional bail to appear in Penrith Local Court on October 15.
Police said Sydney's CBD "remained calm and without incident" despite fears of reciprocal protests.
