Horror as group of men perform Nazi salute near popular Elwood beach

A shocking image of a group of men performing a Nazi salute has been captured near Elwood Beach.

A shocking image of a group of Neo-Nazis performing a Hitler salute has been captured near a popular Melbourne beach in broad daylight.

The photo, obtained by the Herald Sun, shows about 25 males at the Point Ormond lookout in Elwood performing the offensive hand gesture.

One of the participants appears to be a child.

Two participants scaled the monument at the lookout point and unfurled a red and blue flag, representing the far-right European Australia Movement.

The group was founded by Thomas Sewell, 29, who last week was convicted and sentenced to 150 hours of community work after punching a Channel 9 security guard.

The shocking photo was shared over social media at the weekend.

A shocking image of a group of Neo-Nazis performing a Hitler salute has been captured at Point Ormond in Elwood.

In October last year the Herald Sun revealed far right extremist groups had “exploded” in Victoria with nine major organisations now based in the state.

Researchers believe the world’s longest lockdown in Melbourne combined with rising cost of living pressures had resulted in “a perfect storm for recruitment and radicalisation” to surge in the past three years.

“Due to the pandemic but particularly the extensive lockdowns there, people were looking for answers,” Wendy Via, President of the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism (GPAHE), who profiled the Australian groups, said.

Dr Dvir Abramovich, chairman of the Anti-Defamation Commission, said the law should never be on the side of neo-Nazis.

“This can’t stand,” Dr Abramovich said.

“What was unthinkable five years ago is happening on our doorstep.

“It is unacceptable that bigots, with burning malice in their hearts, are brazenly sowing fear and intimidation on our beaches and streets and pushing their murderous ideology through this organised tsunami of hate.”

He said neo-Nazism was on the rise in Australia.

“Recruitment of disaffected young people to the Aryan cause is at a historic level amid a surge in racial bigotry,” he said.

“These agents of extermination are dialling up their spread of murderous ideology in order to attract new followers.”

Local MP Josh Burns said the display was unacceptable.

“Reports today of a group of Neo-Nazis congregating and performing a Nazi salute, goes against everything the community of Elwood stands for,” Mr Burns said.

“I know this group of far-right extremists are doing this to provoke a reaction from people like me.

“However, we can’t be silent and let this happen without calling it out for what it is.

“It is racism, it is divisive and it is frankly not welcome here.

“As a proud Jew and a proud Australian I will always stand against this bigotry.”

The Macnamara MP said it was “deeply troubling” to see people confidently display something with a violent and hate-filled expression so publicly.

“These groups are displaying their bigoted and dark world view in public and Australians can see it for what it is - a glorification of a regime that killed six million people,” Mr Burns said.

He said his grandparents lived in Elwood, which had a vibrant jewish community.

“It couldn’t be in starker contrast to the ugly scenes we saw on the beach and what Elwood stands for,” Mr Burns said.