Caulfield Burgertory store owner Hash Tayeh yet to give statement to cops after claims of threats

The owner of the Caulfield Burgertory store that was set alight last week has not provided a statement after asking Victoria Police to investigate alleged threats to his safety.

Burgertory owner Hash Tayeh asked Victoria Police to investigate alleged threats toward his safety. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

The owner of the Caulfield burger store that was set alight last Friday is yet to give a statement to Victoria Police after he made allegations of threats toward his safety, the state’s top cop says.

Hash Tayeh, owner of the Burgertory store in Caulfield, has “received lots of threats” to his safety, but has asked the force to investigate just one of those.

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton said the ball was in Mr Tayeh’s court as officers awaited his statement.

“He’d received many threats but really only wanted one investigated,” Mr Patton told ABC Radio Melbourne on Thursday.

Chief Commissioner Shane Patton said Mr Tayeh had not yet provided a statement. Picture: Nicki Connolly

“They’ve (investigators) said ‘we’ll absolutely investigate it’, come in, (but) he hasn’t come in yet.

“We’ve invited Mr Tayeh to come in, that hasn’t occurred for whatever reason.

“I make no judgement on that, there may have been competing interests on his behalf, or whatever.

“We’re happy to investigate any and all allegations of any threats, but we don’t do so until we get a statement from someone.

“Until we can get a statement from him, we can’t investigate.”

Investigations into the alleged arson attack remain ongoing and detectives spoke to Mr Tayeh on Wednesday.

Mr Tayeh’s store was gutted by fire in the early hours of Friday morning, with CCTV footage capturing two people smashing their way into the Glen Huntly Rd store before setting it alight.

Hours later, pro-Palestinian protesters took to the streets of Melbourne’s Jewish heartland and were involved in an ugly altercation with police.

Pro-Palestinian protesters were pepper sprayed in a chaotic clash with police outside a Caulfield synagogue.

The Burgertory store was gutted by fire last Friday. Picture: Supplied

Mr Patton said there was still a possibility charges would be laid from the clash as investigators trawl through CCTV and filmed footage of the incident.

“Yes there is (potential for people to be charged),” he added.

“(We will) look at any offences, and we still are, we’re reviewing all CCTV footage.

“We review that material, and if we see that we’ve identified offences that justify people being charged and interviewed, we will do that.”

The pro-Palestinian group later apologised for holding their protest near the Caulfield synagogue, acknowledging the “fear” they had instilled in the Jewish community.

Mr Patton was adamant there were no racial or religious motives for the blaze.

“There’s no evidence, at this stage, to suggest it’s motivated by prejudice or hate crime of any type,” he added.

“It’s pretty clear it’s a definite arson that’s occurred.

“The investigation is a very active one at the moment.”