Far-right protester confronts PM Modi at Melbourne hotel

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was confronted by a far-right protester at his Melbourne hotel early Wednesday, July 8, 2026, shortly after arriving in Australia for a two-day official visit. The protester, identified as 22-year-old Hugo Lennon, shouted anti-immigration slogans from a first-floor balcony overlooking the hotel lobby before being removed by police.

The incident occurred around 12:30 a.m. at the hotel where Modi was staying. In video footage shared online, Lennon, who operates under the social media persona "Auspill," was heard yelling, "F Modi! This is Australia. No more Indians. We don't want any more migration. This country is for Australians." Victoria Police confirmed a man attended the hotel and shouted political statements, and was subsequently "moved on by police without incident." Authorities did not comment on how Lennon knew the prime minister's location, though some reports indicated far-right influencers had shared details of Modi's movements online.

Lennon, described in Australian media reports as a neo-Nazi associate and heir to a wealthy property development family, is a known far-right figure. He was reportedly a key organizer behind last year's...