Bail denied for boxer charged over Sydney riot

Supporters of a former champion boxer charged with affray at Sydney's violent weekend protests punched the air and shouted in court when he was refused bail.

Ahmed Elomar, 29, is one of seven men facing charges over Saturday's protest in Sydney against an anti-Islamic film.

Elomar was denied bail on Sunday after a Parramatta Bail Court magistrate ruled he had breached previous bail conditions for driving offences.

He was again refused bail by a magistrate in Sydney's Central Local Court yesterday.

It's alleged that Elomar broke police lines and was part of a group believed to be about to approach the US consulate "despite police attempts to disperse the crowd".

Yesterday, Magistrate Clare Farnan refused bail on the grounds the protest Elomar was involved in posed a risk to public safety and his breach of bail conditions demonstrated he "had shown disregard for court orders, and had chosen to again".

Police had argued that Elomar had been involved in the riot which "gave rise to serious risk of public safety", the court heard.

After the decision was handed down, a group of 10 supporters in the public gallery stood up and called out in Arabic, some punching their fists into the air, before leaving the court.

"The offences are alleged to have occurred when the applicant had participated in an unauthorised protest, accompanied by 500 protesters," Ms Farnan told the court.

"The offences are alleged to have caused a major disturbance."

Elomar's lawyer, Peter Lang, had argued that bail should not be refused because the situation surrounding his client's alleged offence did constitute very unusual circumstances. The matter was adjourned until October 2.

Ms Farnan dismissed the defence's argument that the case against Elomar was "weak" because there was only one charge against him - of breaking police lines.

She said that if the charge were proved, "such violence could well be unlawful and I don't consider that case could be properly described as 'weak'." 

AAP