Neo-Nazis allegedly assemble for Hitler’s birthday at Wantirna South bar, perform salute

Around 20 men performed the offensive Nazi salute at the Bavarian Restaurant in Wantirna South, allegedly celebrating Adolf Hitler’s 134th birthday.

A group of neo-Nazis has been photographed performing the Nazi salute at a popular bar in Melbourne’s east. Picture: Supplied

A group of neo-Nazis have been photographed performing the Nazi salute at a popular bar in Melbourne’s east where they had gathered to allegedly celebrate Adolf Hitler’s birthday.

The Herald Sun has obtained photos of nearly 20 men performing the offensive gesture at the Bavarian Restaurant at Knox City shopping centre in Wantirna South.

One of the men in the images displayed a framed picture of Hitler, while another man held up two balloons of the letter H.

The group were escorted from the venue by police, with another image showing a man performing the salute in front of a group of officers in the Knox O-Zone carpark.

Neo-Nazi Thomas Sewell said the group had a “great and eventful night” where they enjoyed “great German food, beer and company”. Picture: Supplied

Neo-Nazi Thomas Sewell, who leads the European Australian Movement, said the group had a “great and eventful night” where they enjoyed “great German food, beer and company”, according to leaked correspondence from encrypted app Telegram.

The message, which was seen by 3206 people, said the group gathered on Thursday April 20 to celebrate Hitler’s 134th birthday party.

“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 group were escorted outside the bar by police, with another image surfacing of a man performing the salute in front of a group of officers. Picture: Supplied

A Victoria Police spokeswoman confirmed police were called to the venue on Thursday night to move the group on.

“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.”

The Andrews government last month confirmed it would fast track plans to outlaw the public display of the Nazi salute after a group of masked men stormed the steps of state parliament to perform the offensive gesture.

Anti-Defamation Commission chair Dvir Abramovich said the event represented a “sad and dark day for our democracy”.

“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,” Dr Abramovich said.

Leaked, encrypted Telegram messages from Sewell showed the group allegedly gathered to celebrate Hitler’s birthday. Picture: Supplied

“In the very week that the Jewish community across the country commemorated and mourned the systematic extermination of six million Jews at the hands of the Third Reich and its collaborators, these hardcore white supremacists celebrated the birthday of the very monster responsible for the gassing of mothers and babies and the shooting of families in open fields.”

Dr Abramovich said it was time for the Andrews government to develop an action plan to combat violent extremist ideology.

He also urged the government to push the Commonwealth to declaring the groups as terrorist organisations.

“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 if we want to prevent any further shooting rampages as we witnessed in New Zealand and other parts of the world,” he added.