African youth gang storms iconic St Kilda restaurant
LANDMARK restaurants in St Kilda are going on the defence against rampaging youth gangs after a brutal attack which left a group of chefs bloodied when a group of thugs stormed landmark restaurant, Donovans. Police have since released CCTV to help catch the group.
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LATEST: Restaurateurs on the St Kilda foreshore have formed “action plans” to protect staff and customers from violence after a large gang, described as African in appearance, launched an unprovoked attack outside one eatery.
A former chef at Donovans restaurant was badly beaten with an iron bar and knuckledusters by the youths as he waited for friends to finish work inside the diner on Thursday night.
VICTIMS TERRORISED IN GANG’S 10-HOUR SPREE
The clash spiralled into an all in brawl, with a group of youths blocking traffic and barring other chefs inside the restaurant from coming to the aid of their colleagues, according to the husband of the Donovan’s worker.
Some chefs trapped inside the restaurant eventually broke free and dragged their injured colleagues back inside using a shovel and large fire lighter to hold the youths at bay.
Police have since released CCTV in the hope they can identify those involved.
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The footage shows a group of male and female youths walking near Luna Park and the Palais Theatre at 10.36pm.
Daniel Maetzing, 24, said about 20 youths attacked him after he refused to give one of them a cigarette.
“When I didn’t hand one over, they tried to kick my phone out of my hand and then they attacked,” he said.
“I was punched at least 50 times and I just kept telling myself, ‘Stay on your feet or you are done for’.
“They don’t value other peoples’ lives. Will it take someone to die before we start focusing on our safety?”
He was treated by paramedics for lacerations to his face and head. Thirty minutes earlier, another man, 23, was punched to the head and robbed by the same group in nearby Jacka Boulevard.
One youth demanded his phone. The pedestrian then copped several head blows and his phone was taken.
The attacks echoed the out-of-control brawl involving African youths along the foreshore 11 months ago.
The Herald Sun can reveal restaurants along the beach strip have now developed security plans to defend staff and patrons.
Staff at the venues were given safety briefings yesterday.
One restaurant worker said the incidents signalled youth gangs “were back” and that the staff needed to be prepared.
The St Kilda Surf Life Saving Club will be transformed into a remote police station for the summer.
Police will also push for the reintroduction of alcohol bans across the foreshore, after a successful trial was ditched by council earlier this year.
Five state government-funded CCTV cameras will be installed across the foreshore from next month.
Today, the husband of one traumatised Donovans worker told how chefs finally managed to run out of the restaurant — the attackers at first blocked the door — armed with a shovel and a large firelighter to fend off youths as they attacked the former chef with metal poles about 10.30pm.
“They were carrying steel bars which they had disguised up the arm of their clothing,” the husband of the worker said.
“My wife was in the restaurant and she could see them all running across the road and stopping cars to come over.
“The chefs were completely outnumbered. The group blocked the door so they couldn’t get out to help.
“They were eventually able to drag in the injured who copped a severe belting. One of the guys was so severely beaten you could see his skull.
“About three were really severely beaten. The others have black eyes and pole marks where they were beaten in the back.”
His wife claimed some other colleagues were badly beaten.
The young attackers then tried to kick their way into Donovans, where about 20 diners and staff watched on in horror.
“They wanted to do as much damage as they could,” he said.
Detectives have released CCTV footage of about 15 youths walking in the area at the time.
Detective Sergeant David Schaefer said he was confident the offenders would be caught. “This was cowardly, vicious and unprovoked,” he said.
Inspector Jason Kelly said the attacks reflected the need for alcohol bans along St Kilda’s foreshore.
A temporary ban was voted out by Port Phillip councillors earlier this year.
Insp Kelly said police would push for the restrictions to be reintroduced for summer.
“A combination of youth, alcohol and a large public space and it’s doesn’t mix,” he said.
“When bans were in place there were reduced police calls out, less crime and anti-social behaviour.
“It’s Victoria Police’s position that the restrictions be brought back in.”
St Kilda residents called for an increased police presence.
One young mum said “it’s not a case of if but when” violent youth gangs strike over the period.
“Every time it gets hot there will be police and ambulances here without fail,” she said.
“There are always big groups of kids. We have seen cops chasing them across the road and handcuffing them on the ground.
“My kids think it’s like something out of a movie.”
She said the police response is always “too little, too late”.
‘COWARDLY, VICIOUS AND UNPROVOKED’: POLICE
Victoria Police confirmed it was investigating whether two assaults on men 35 minutes apart in St Kilda were connected.
Police confirmed both incidents involved “a group of males of African appearance”
In the first, a man walking on Jacka Boulevard was approached at 10pm by a man who demanded his wallet and phone.
Police said the victim, 23, was then surrounded by between 10 and 15 males who assaulted him and stole his phone.
The man had swelling to his face after copping several blows to the head. He was assessed at the scene.
Det Sgt David Schaefer said police were “desperate to identify these people”.
In a separate incident, six thugs remain on the run after a terrifying home invasion in Brunswick West on Tuesday.
Up to six males of African appearance armed with knives and hammers smashed their way into a house on Yarrabin Street about 4.30am.
Investigators were told the brutes confronted two victims and demanded they hand over money and jewellery before fleeing in one of the victim’s black Jeep Cherokee.
The vehicle was recovered in Deer Park the following day.
Anyone with information related to any of the violent incidents can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit the website.
Donovans and staff have declined to comment.