A disturbing photo has emerged of one of the right-wing figures who confronted Anthony Albanese in a Melbourne hotel lobby on Tuesday night.
Daniel Jones has posted images online of him toting various firearms, including a rocket launcher.
The Melbourne man took credit for a video in which Mr Albanese was confronted in the Grand Hyatt Hotel, sparking security concerns.
'Albo! How do you feel about the rise in immigration, mate? Do you think it's fair?' Mr Jones called out to Mr Albanese as a bodyguard stepped in.
A second man also ambushed a stunned Mr Albanese and asked him about housing while filming on his phone.
'There are hundreds of thousands of Australians around the country, who are unable to afford housing… when are you going to put Australians first?' the man asked, while media staffer Fiona Sugden, and then a bodyguard, intervened.
Melbourne Freedom Rally, protesters who have previously held out-of-control anti-vaccination demonstrations, laid claim to the second video.
It's unclear how the pair managed to slip past security or approach Mr Albanese in the hotel lobby.
A stunned Mr Albanese did not reply to questions from the men before his security intervened
Daniel Jones has posted images online of him toting various firearms, including a rocket launcher
Mr Jones' self-defence school, Tactical Force Combatives, has posted several photos of him posing with firearms on social media.
'Bit of fun with a rocket launcher,' one photo was captioned in December, which appeared to show him aiming the weapon.
Another photo appeared to show him holding an 'M79 grenade launcher'.
The self-defence instructor defended his actions on Thursday, posting to the school's social media account: 'I didn't realise non threatening asking of questions was considered "political extremism" these days.'
'At no point was the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese ever in danger, I was simply wanting some questions answered about things that are concerning every day Australians,' Mr Jones said in another post.
He also defended Mr Albanese's bodyguards, saying they had not assaulted him and were 'just doing their job'.
The ambush is the latest in a string of headlines about threats to politicians' security as they travel across the country in lead up to the May 3 election.
Dozens of activists dressed in black yelled racist slogans outside Coalition Senator James Paterson's office in South Melbourne on Sunday.
One photo appeared to show Mr Jones aiming an 'M79 grenade launcher'
Last week, it was also revealed Peter Dutton was the alleged target of a private school student's terror plot which reportedly involved the use of a drone.
Mr Albanese later revealed that authorities have launched legal proceedings to protect him after a 'serious incident'.
The AFP had issued a sobering warning about concerns for politicians' safety only a few weeks before.
'The number of reports of threats to high office holders, federal parliamentarians, dignitaries and electorate offices continue to grow,' Commissioner Reece Kershaw told the Senate on March 27.
Citing data from the last few years, he revealed reports of threats to politicians had doubled from 555 in 2021-22, to 1009 in 2023-24.
'In Australia, we are recording an increase in issue-motivated extremism, and offenders who are quickly willing to use violence to further their cause.'
