Israeli restaurant stormed by protesters, synagogue set on fire in latest anti-Semitic attacks in Melbourne
Police have released a picture of a man wanted for questioning over a fire at an East Melbourne synagogue, which came on a night of multiple acts of anti-Semitism across the city.
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Police have released a picture of a man wanted for questioning over a fire at an East Melbourne synagogue, which came on a night of multiple acts of anti-Semitism across the city.
Detectives say the man was seen in the area around the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation at the time of the fire — about 8pm Friday — and may be able to assist inquiries.
“The man depicted is perceived as being caucasian in appearance, is believed to be aged in his 30s with a beard and long hair,” a statement read.
“He is pictured wearing a dark blue or black jumper, black pants and a black beanie.”
In a night of horror for Melbourne’s Jewish community, an Israeli restaurant in the CBD was attacked after protesters raged through the city, the synagogue was targeted by an arsonist and three cars were torched outside a Greensborough business.
Premier Jacinta Allan condemned the “disgraceful behaviour by a pack of cowards” while Melbourne Lord Mayor Nick Reece said the latest acts of anti-Semitism in the city “should be condemned in the strongest possible terms”.
Police have not labelled the crimes as terrorism, but Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel condemned the attacks as a form of “terrorism” as she called out Victorian authorities for failing to crackdown on soaring anti-Semitism.
In a statement released on Saturday afternoon, Ms Haskel said attacks on the Jewish people in Melbourne had continued because there have been “no real consequences for those spreading hate and inciting violence”.
“The horrifying attacks … in Melbourne are yet another reminder of how far racist, anti-Semitic hate crimes have spread in the heart of Australia.”
Protesters riot at Israeli restaurant
Diners at Miznon in Hardware Lane were left terrified as a group of up to 20 masked pro-Palestine protesters stormed the venue about 8.30pm.
Witnesses said the mob chanted “death to the IDF” (Israeli Defence Force) while throwing chairs and food at the window of the restaurant.
A witness inside the restaurant at the time said the restaurant’s front window was cracked as staff attempted to shut the door and protesters tried to force their way in.
Once inside, he said they threw tomatoes used for table decorations at staff and diners.
He said it took police around 15 minutes to respond to the chaotic scenes.
Shocking video footage shows screaming and yelling as furniture is hurled and tables overturned.
Police are seen descending on the restaurant, with witnesses saying several of the thugs were arrested.
A 28-year-old woman from Footscray was arrested for hindering police and has been released on summons.
Victoria Police confirmed several other protesters were spoken to by police and had their identities clarified for the purpose of follow up investigation.
At Miznon on Saturday morning, the restaurant manager and part owner said she was reluctant to speak for fear of being targeted by protesters again.
She said the group that stormed the restaurant was made up of “really young people” and called their actions “disgusting”.
Workers have arrived at the restaurant this morning, which will be open for lunch despite Friday night’s chaos.
At the restaurant opposite Miznon, Max on Hardware, chef Nick Pistikakis described scenes of protesters “yelling and raging” and called the scenes “terrible”.
“Some were face covered, some had masks, some had speakers, and all chanting”, Mr Pistikakis said.
Mr Pistikakis said diners eating outside the restaurant fled in panic as the chaos erupted.
Latest synagogue targeted in arson attack
Police are probing an arson attack at the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation on Albert St on Friday night.
It’s understood about 20 people were having a meal inside the synagogue after the Friday night service when an arsonist approached the front door and rang the doorbell.
When no one answered, he lit an explosive device which singed the doorway and flooded the front of the synagogue with smoke.
Police said those inside managed to escape through the rear of the building and there had been no reports of injuries.
East Melbourne Synagogue rabbi Dovid Gutnick said innocent people could have been seriously hurt.
“There were children playing … this is a family synagogue,” he said.
“That’s the really scary thing because they could have opened the door and the person clearly had bigger plans.”
“It could have been a lot worse because those doors are wooden and there’s carpet so we were lucky the response was quick.”
Police confirmed the fire is yet to be declared a terrorists attack.
“These crimes are disgusting and abhorrent,” Commander Zorka Dunstan said.
An arson chemist is investigating the scene at the synagogue and police are seeking CCTV footage.
Earlier on Saturday, Victoria Police said it was “engaging with people from the synagogue and other representatives from the Jewish community to ensure appropriate supports are in place”.
“Police are still working to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the fire including the motivation behind the incident,” A police spokesperson said.
“There is absolutely no place in our society for anti-Semitic or hate-based behaviour.”
The attack marks the second attempted arson on a synagogue in a matter of months, following the firebombing of the Adass Israel Synagogue in December last year.
The synagogue was gutted by fire in what become one of the most high-profile attacks on the Jewish community in Melbourne.
Greensborough tech business targeted again
In the third attack across Melbourne, three cars were graffitied with anti-Semitic messages and set on fire outside Lovitt Technologies Australia in Greensborough around 4:30am.
It’s not the first time Lovitt Technologies — a manufacturer and technology producer for the aerospace industry — has been targeted by activists.
“We understand there is some connection (between all three crimes),” Ms Dunstan added.
“We are taking all three in incredibly seriously.”
Police will increase “proactive patrols” around the synagogue and impacted businesses in coming days.
How Melbourne’s night of chaos unfolded
The anti-police rally kicked off proceedings at the State Library from 5.30pm in which 70 protesters gathered as one.
The activist group demanded that Victoria Police attend no further protests in the city and called for “an independent investigation into VicPol’s indiscriminate use of force.”
“After repeated, unprovoked assaults by Victoria Police at peaceful protests, we’ve had enough,” the group said ahead of the rally.
“We keep us safe … not the cops. And we are done with their violence, their gaslighting, and their presence.”
The crew on Friday, made up of a number of activist groups and speakers, came together after a huge social media callout urged fellow protesters to flood the city in support.
The anti-police rally was promoted by the Whistleblower, Activists & Communities Alliance, the Black People’s Union, Total Liberation Alliance and a man dubbed ‘Charlie the Commie’.
Their combined following reaches more than 52,000 people online.
Of the 70 activists that rallied on Swanston St, about 20 of those then shifted their focus to Hardware Lane where chaos erupted.
A separate promotional poster, also plastered across social media, urged followers to “boycott Miznon”.
And while that activist group did not call for the eatery to be physically targeted, it put the global restaurant chain in the spotlight with their operator coming under fire recently.
“Miznon Melbourne is a restaurant operated by Shahar Segal, who currently serves as a spokesperson for the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation — an entity widely condemned for its role in Israel’s ongoing assault on the Palestinian people,” the group said.
“The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which Shahar Segal publicly represents, has been widely criticised by over 170 humanitarian organisations … GHF has created conditions so unsafe that more than 500 Palestinians have been killed while trying to access food and aid at their distribution points.”
A witness to the restaurant attack said a breakaway group of pro-Palestine protesters had stormed into the venue “with their drums and their mic and saying Miznon is not welcome here”, as patrons were quietly eating their meals.
“Then they started getting aggressive throwing tomatoes, chairs, and glasses.
“They caused lots of damage to the businesses down here,” he said.
The owner of Miznon was at the scene when the Herald Sun arrived but declined to comment.
The attack saw police shut down Hardware Lane at both ends, with witnesses reporting that multiple arrests were made.
Shocking footage has emerged showing masked youths facing off with what appear to be anti-Israel protesters in the Melbourne CBD about 8pm
Video shows the masked youths yelling expletives at the protesters outside a Sushi Hub on Swanston St.
The altercation escalated after the youths began throwing traffic bollards and using other road work equipment as weapons, with one bollard hurled at a passing car.
“No wonder you’re going to f---ing jail,” one protester can be heard yelling.
Meanwhile other people can be heard saying “comrades, keep moving”.
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