A second nurse has been charged over a viral antisemitic video allegedly threatening to harm Israeli patients at a south-west Sydney hospital last month.
Former Bankstown Hospital nurses Sarah Abu Lebdeh, 26, and Ahmad ‘Rashad’ Nadir, 27, were at the centre of the clip that was shared online by an Israel-based influencer.
Content creator Max Veifer posted the two-minute video to TikTok and Instagram of him talking to the two nurses who were understood to be working night shift at the time.
Detectives confirmed on Wednesday Mr Nadir was charged with a Commonwealth offence of using a carriage service to menace/harass/offend or threaten.
He was also charged with possess a prohibited drug, which was allegedly found inside his locker at Bankstown Hospital where the antisemitic video was filmed.
NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb thanked Strike Force Pearl detectives for arresting 15 people and laying 78 charges over alleged antisemitic incidents.
“There is a tremendous amount of dedication and hard work going into all these investigations. Detectives have overcome many challenges – including huge public expectation – to put these individuals before the court,” she said in a statement.
It comes one week after Ms Abu Lebdeh was hit with three Commonwealth charges.
Police had not been able to formally interview Mr Nadir last week as he was receiving “medical treatment” following his admission to hospital over mental health concerns.
Commissioner Webb confirmed at the time further charges were expected but investigators had to “work around his personal circumstances” that were out of their control.
The two former NSW Health nurses had allegedly threatened to harm and suggested “killing” Israeli patients during a video call with Veifer while they worked.
The content creator had recorded the interaction on Chatruletka, an online chat room platform that randomly connects people together from around the world.
The investigation had been prolonged due to the witness being based in Israel.
The nurses – who had their registrations suspended a day after the incident – have issued apologies for what they initially claimed was a joke.
