Police investigate after group allegedly performed Nazi salutes

Moviegoers in Carlton have been left “shaking with rage” after a group of people allegedly performed Nazi salutes and called out a racial slur at a screening of The Zone of Interest.

The incident happened during a screening at Cinema Nova on Saturday night. Picture: AAP

Police are investigating reports a group performed Nazi salutes at a Melbourne cinema during a film about the Holocaust on Saturday night.

The group reportedly performed the salute – illegal in Victoria – and “called out a racial slur” at Cinema Nova’s showing of The Zone of Interest in Carlton.

The film follows the family life of Rudolf Höss, who oversaw Auschwitz, the Nazi’s largest concentration camp where more than 1.1 million men, women and children were killed.

A spokesperson from Cinema Nova said the group of five, four men and one woman, admitted to “creating a scene” when confronted by management at the conclusion of the movie.

“They were then asked to leave and, with the assistance of security, escorted off the premises,’ they said.

“Customers who reported the matter have been contacted by the cinema and the matter has been reported to Victorian Police.”

A scene from the movie The Zone of Interest.

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said they “understand incidents of anti-Semitism can leave communities feeling targeted, threatened and vulnerable”.

“Police will not tolerate behaviour that incites hatred or violence in the community,” she said.

She said the exact circumstances of the incident, which took place at about 9.15pm, were “yet to be determined”.

“The investigation is ongoing”.

She urged any witnesses, or anyone with information or footage to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

The Zone of Interest follows the family life of Rudolf Höss, who oversaw Auschwitz.

Louise Shuter told ABC Radio her daughter witnessed the group’s behaviour, and was harassed by them after she complained to cinema staff.

“It was a pretty upsetting incident,” she said.

“She was just shaking with rage, upset, just shocked.”

Anti-Defamation Commission chairman Dr Dvir Abramovich, who campaigned for the salute’s ban, slammed the “unapologetic and emboldened white supremacists” for “brazenly sowing fear and intimidation”.

He said he hoped they were “prosecuted to the full extent of the law”.

“People watching a film should feel safe and not be confronted with this bone-chilling salute, which is the embodiment of inhumanity and … represents the extermination of six million Jews and millions of others,” he said.

“Imagine how shocked and traumatised a Holocaust survivor would be sitting in that venue and witnessing this horror show of evil.

“It is unacceptable that these modern day guards of Auschwitz, with burning malice in their hearts, are on our streets pushing their murderous ideology through this organised tsunami of hate.”

The maximum penalty for intentionally performing or displaying a Nazi symbol or gesture – including the salute – is one year imprisonment and a fine of more than $23,000.