Victoria Police called to The Bavarian restaurant following neo-Nazi salute

A group of men who performed the offensive neo-Nazi salute while celebrating Adolf Hitler’s birthday were asked to leave a popular restaurant.

A group of men performing Nazi salutes in honour of Adolf Hitler’s birthday in a Melbourne restaurant have been condemned for their “brazen” display.

A Victoria Police spokeswoman told NCA NewsWire that officers were called to The Bavarian restaurant at the Westfield Knox Shopping Centre, Wantirna South, on Thursday.

“It is understood a group of people performed a Nazi salute at a venue on Burwood Highway and were asked to leave about 8.45pm,” she said.

“Police moved the group on, and no offences were identified.”

Photos posted online show about 20 men, including leader of the National Socialist Network Thomas Sewell, had been dining at the restaurant alongside a photograph of Adolf Hitler, to allegedly mark his 134th birthday.

Neo-Nazis were allegedly celebrating Adolf Hitler’s birthday. Picture: Supplied via NCA NewsWire

One of the men displayed two balloons with the letter HH, allegedly to reference “Heil Hitler”, as the remaining performed the Nazi salute.

Anti-Defamation Commission chair Dvir Abramovich has condemned the group, stating the acts were not acceptable.

“Last Thursday was a sad and dark day for our democracy,” Dr Abramovich said.

“Something is very wrong in Victoria, and we should be all alarmed by this brazen and stomach-churning outrage that will forever be a stain on our state.

“This beyond despicable display of Hitler worshipping and depravity belongs in Nazi Germany of the 1930s, not in a local restaurant where parents and children gather.

“Imagine the terrifying horror a Holocaust survivor would feel if they witnessed this public expression of singular evil which they probably never thought they would see in their lifetime.”

Mr Sewell, who also leads the European Australian Movement, said the group had a “great and eventful night”, according to leaked correspondence from encrypted app Telegram.

The message, which was seen by 3206 people, has been seen by NCA NewsWire.

The men had gathered at the Bavarian restaurant at the Knox City Shopping Centre on April 20 before being moved on by police. Picture: Supplied via NCA NewsWire

“We enjoyed great German food, beer and company,” the message stated.

“Despite not breaking any laws and not disturbing a soul, we were set upon by a dozen scum from Victoria Police who were terribly upset we were celebrating this holy day instead of the government approved gay or paedophile holidays,” the Telegram message stated.

“Being confronted by system violence while our families and babies were present we were forced to eat our Hitler cake while being escorted from the shopping centre under threat of political violence.

“They persecute us because they know we are rising and the world will learn the truth about Hitler and look to us for leadership.”

The Victorian government is working to outlaw the public display of the Nazi salute after a group of masked men stormed the steps of state parliament to perform the salute.

A far right-wing group gave Nazi salutes on the steps of parliament. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Crosling

But Dr Abramovich said more needed to be done to stop the “modern-day guards of Auschwitz”.

“ I urge the Andrews government to quickly implement the ban on the Nazi salute that they promised last month, develop a plan of action to combat this violent extremist ideology and ask the Federal government to designate all such groups as terrorist organisations,” he said.

“ This is a timely wake-up call that we as a society need to keep a close watch on the resurgence of this dangerous movement.

“This is a fight we have to win.”

A spokeswoman for the Bavarian Restaurant told NCA NewsWire that staff contacted police about the men’s behaviour.

“We don’t condone the group’s behaviour. We pride ourselves on being a family-friendly restaurant,” she said.

“We sympathise with guests who were present and anyone who was offended by the incident.

“We were equally offended and took the matter immediately in hand.”

Originally published as Victoria Police called to The Bavarian restaurant following neo-Nazi salute