WHAT WAS CLAIMED
Muslims prayed in front of a memorial for Bondi terrorist attack victims during a protest.
OUR VERDICT
False. There are no memorial displays in the area where people were praying.
AAP FACTCHECK - A group of Muslims who prayed during a protest in Sydney did not do so in front of a memorial for victims of the Bondi Beach terrorist attack, despite claims online.
There is no memorial in the area where the protest took place and footage shows the group praying near flower planter boxes.
A demonstration was held in Sydney's CBD on February 9, 2026, opposing a visit by Israeli President Isaac Herzog, despite restrictions on public protests and additional police powers introduced by the NSW government.
Mr Herzog was invited to Australia by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese after December's Bondi massacre.
However, the visit was met with opposition from pro-Palestine groups and other protesters, who point to a UN inquiry that found the president - along with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant - had "incited the commission of genocide" through their speeches and statements.
Several videos have spread on social media following the rally.
False claims are spreading online about one particular video, which shows a group of Muslim people praying before being pulled from their knees, pushed and dragged away by police.
"Islamists associated with the jihadist organisation Hizb Ut Tahrir baited NSW police this evening with public prayers right in front of memorial displays for the victims of the Bondi attack, as the police were trying to clear out the area," a Facebook post claims.
"Anyone who knows anything about Islam, knows that this is a POLITICAL demonstration of force and defiance.
"There should be ZERO TOLERANCE of this behaviour. Well done to NSW Police for giving them the move-on treatment they deserved."
However, there are currently no memorial displays for victims of the Bondi terrorist attack at Sydney Town Hall, where the protest and prayers were held.
The clip, which was filmed by British-Australian doctor Mohammed Mustafa, shows a group of approximately 15 people praying near a flower display.
The City of Sydney confirmed to AAP FactCheck the council had not established any memorial at that location and NSW Police said they had no information regarding a Bondi memorial in the vicinity.
Footage filmed and shared on social media by NSW MP Abigail Boyd shows the group praying from an alternative angle, where they can be seen facing in the direction of the planter box (timestamp 47 seconds, 1:50, 2:40).
Waverly Council, which includes the suburb of Bondi, has designated a menorah sculpture in Archer Park beside Bondi Beach as a temporary memorial.
The site is 7km from where the protest and prayers were held.
Plans are being considered for a permanent tribute to honour victims and survivors, which will involve consultation from the NSW government, council and the Jewish community, according to Waverly Council.
While the protest was taking place, Mr Herzog spoke at an event paying tribute to Bondi victims at a convention centre located approximately 1km away.
One of the people in the prayer group, Azhar Bhuiyan, told the Sydney Morning Herald that the main reason Muslims were praying at that time was because the time for the sunset prayer was expiring.
As part of their faith, Muslims must pray five times a day, and there are set times for those prayers.
Those praying face towards Mecca. During the Sydney protest, the people praying appear to be facing north-west, which is consistent with the direction of Mecca.
Mr Bhuiyan said the group had picked a location that was away from the main protest, and that they were not obstructing anyone.
Asked about the incident, NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said it was part of an effort by officers to move protesters out of the area.
"At that stage, we were dispersing the crowd for community safety, as the premier said, there was no intent to cause offence," he said.
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