An outspoken activist who held up a sign which read 'F*** Xi Jinping' at a busy Asian market could be charged over the brazen stunt.
Drew Pavlou, 20, antagonised an angry mob with the obscene message to the Chinese President at Eastwood Plaza in Sydney's north-west on Saturday.
Mr Pavlou quickly provoked a furious reaction at the crowded shopping centre as dozens of locals made their disapproval of the stunt known.
The activist took to Twitter on Sunday to tell his followers he had been contacted by NSW Police, who said they intended to press charges.
He took to Twitter on Sunday to tell his followers he had received a phone call from NSW Police who he claimed said they intended to press charges
A NSW Police spokesperson said an investigation was ongoing and no charges had been laid
'New South Wales police just called me to tell me I'm getting charged for holding a sign saying 'Fuck Xi Jinping' in Sydney,' he tweeted on Sunday afternoon.
'They won't tell me what the exact charge is and they won't tell me whether the men who physically assaulted us are being charged.'
Several of his followers expressed their shock at the threat of formal charges, which Mr Pavlou described on Instagram as 'so unfair'.
'Simple intimidation tactics. There is no law against foul language and there is no law against insults,' one user replied.
'Unfortunately the police will treat your situation as inciting public unrest, which it was,' another commented.
Mr Pavlou said if he had to 'potentially get bashed and charged for holding a protest' for talking about the Chinese President 'so be it'.
A NSW Police spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia officers were investigating an alleged assault that occurred during political protest activity at Eastwood Plaza.
There were no reports of any serious injuries and no charges have been laid.
A political activist caused a huge stir at a Sydney shopping centre on Saturday after carrying a sign which read 'F*** Xi Jinping' (pictured, stunned locals in Eastwood vent their anger towards Drew Pavlou)
In footage of the tense showdown the activist and a friend were circled by shoppers who screamed abuse, forcing officers to protect the pair.
At one stage one local grappled with Mr Pavlou's sidekick, who was filming the stunt, with the stand-off caught on camera by another bystander.
Eastwood has one of the highest Chinese populations in Sydney, and Mr Pavlou's provocative action caused an incendiary reaction.
It only took seconds for
