The son of a former cop, who is often seen at the side of a neo-Nazi leader, has been publicly disowned by his family after his ’embarrassing’ involvement in storming an Aboriginal camp.
Nathan Bull, 23, from Mooroolbark east of Melbourne, was part of the National Socialist Network (NSN) group that raided Camp Sovereignty on Sunday at Melbourne’s Kings Domain park.
Footage from the Aboriginal sacred site near the Shrine of Remembrance showed Thomas Sewell and Bull lashing out at people, with the latter kicking one man near a campfire.
Two days later, the pair – along with a 20-year-old – were charged in relation to the incident.
Police allege the group was led by Sewell, who has been charged with 25 offences including violent disorder, affray, assault and discharging a missile after Camp Sovereignty occupiers were allegedly held down and attacked.
Bull has been charged with offences including violent disorder and affray following the incident and was granted bail by police on Tuesday night.
Now the subject of public and media scrutiny, Bull’s family have released a blunt statement through the White Rose Society disowning him.
‘We, as Nathan Bull’s family, are utterly devastated and remain in disbelief at his decision to join this group,’ the statement said.
Nathan Bull (pictured) was part of the National Socialist Network (NSN) group that raided Camp Sovereignty on Sunday at Melbourne’s Kings Domain park on Sunday
Bull’s family released a statement (pictured) via social media, bluntly disowning him
‘From the very beginning, we made it clear that if he chose this path, we could no longer be an active part of his life. Sadly, that is the decision he made.’
In response to misinformation and ‘incorrect assumptions’, the statement highlighted that Bull’s father has not been a member of Victoria Police for over three years.
‘He is not “Luke Bull,” the officer charged and found guilty in relation to a separate matter last year,’ they said.
‘He is in no way racist, nor did he have a negative influence on Nathan growing up.’
The statement highlighted a photo from Bull’s 21st birthday, shared by his father with the words: ‘Love you heaps and proud of what you are doing’.
He was dressed in a T-shirt that had a neo-Nazi symbolism in the picture.
The family addressed it directly, claiming: ‘We had no knowledge of any association Nathan may have had with this group, nor any understanding of the meaning behind the T-shirt he wore.’
‘At that point, Nathan was working, engaged with his family, and we believed he was becoming a fine young man. Not long after, our trust in that belief was sadly shattered.’
The statement addressed a photo from Bull’s 21st birthday, shared by his father. They said they did not have an understanding of the image on it (pictured)
Footage from the Aboriginal sacred site near the Shrine of Remembrance showed Thomas Sewell and Bull lashing out at people on Sunday
The family has asked for media and the community to stop contacting them after receiving ‘deeply distressing’ abusive phone calls.
‘We are embarrassed to see Nathan continually featured in the media and saddened by the possibility that he may never leave this group. His choices are his alone,’ they said.
‘We hope this statement clears up some of the misinformation currently circulating and that we can now be allowed to live our lives without harassment due to the actions of someone who is no longer a part of our family.’
The young father was also behind the camera, filming Sewell on Tuesday when he interrupted Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan’s press conference.
Bull is due to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court over the Camp Sovereignty charges on December 10.
