Anti-vax vandals leave death threat at Briki Cafe in Thornbury

A shocked Thornbury cafe owner has been hit with a death threat after anti-vax vandals caused thousands of dollars of damage to his business.

Briki Cafe in Thornbury was allegedly vandalised by anti-vaxxers. Picture: Google Maps

A Thornbury small business owner has been left shaken after anti-vaxxers vandalised his cafe, leaving a menacing death threat and causing thousands of dollars in damage.

Briki Cafe owner Symeon Kandias spoke about the frightening ordeal on Melbourne radio on Monday, saying “it was a big shock” when he arrived at work on Monday morning.

“I rocked up and my main window right at the front next to my coffee machine was all shattered and there was a massive, massive brick inside,” Mr Kandias said.

“The entrance door was all smashed up, as well.”

But he said the most frightening part was finding the “threatening note” stuck to the door, which read “do what Daniel Andrews says and we will burn your cafe down and kill you mother f---er”.

Briki cafe owner Symeon Kandias in Thornbury. Picture: ABC News

The smashed window at Briki Cafe in Thornbury. Picture: ABC News

Mr Kandias said the vandals left the message so he would know why they wreaked havoc on his business.

The cafe owner went on to say he had “no idea” why someone would target his Hutton St business, noting that all of his customers were “really nice, friendly people” and “obviously double vaxxed”.

“We haven’t got any different views to anyone else…we’re not extreme either way, especially to the left,” Mr Kandias said.

“I’m just following the rules. I’m doing what I’m expected to do and keep(ing) everyone safe.”

Mr Kandias said he was facing “a few thousand” dollars’ worth of damage and was “very worried” the vandals would return.

Police located three Thornbury businesses on High St with damaged windows on Sunday morning but have not yet been able to establish if these incidents are connected to Briki Cafe.

The scene after vandals smashed the window with a brick. Picture: ABC News

A brick rests inside the broken window after vandals targeted Briki cafe. Picture: ABC News

Government Minister Jacinta Allan said police had been forced to respond to similar violent incidents in recent months.

“That would have been a really unpleasant experience,” she said when asked about the incident.

“It’s just not on … resorting to violence and threats of violence, simply because you’re doing the right thing, that is simply unacceptable.”

Ms Allan said there had been “far too many unacceptable examples of people threatening violence” throughout the pandemic.

Under state government requirements, Victorians aged 12 and over must be fully vaccinated to enter hospitality and retail venues, including cafes.