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Rimkunas said the department decided to launch an investigation of the Tomasi incident on its own, but has since been in contact with the Australian consulate.

You can also ask to contact the consulate, which may be able to assist you in finding a lawyer.

The consulate did not say how often this type of crime has occurred or whether any suspects have been arrested.

A man who burned a copy of the Quran outside the Turkish consulate in London has been found guilty of a religiously aggravated public order offence.

But recent processing delays left him "deeply worried", he said, with appointments at consulates now either postponed or unavailable.