Victoria Police say they have identified one of the men allegedly involved in a neo-Nazi demonstration on the steps of parliament on Friday night during which an antisemitic sign was displayed, prompting cries of outrage and disgust from members of the public who witnessed it.
Victoria Police’s North West Metro Region Acting Superintendent Kelly Walker said identifying every one of the 20 men who stood on the steps of parliament dressed in black clothing, with their faces hidden, was the police’s top priority.
An antisemitic sign is held on the steps of Victoria’s parliament.Credit: Reddit user melbtest05
She said the men involved in the protest on Friday night may be charged with a range of crimes including grossly offensive conduct.
“We will be looking through extensive CBD network of footage that exists,” she said during a press conference on Saturday afternoon.
Walker said police were doing everything they could to find the man they had already identified, and implored witnesses who saw the protest to contact police to assist with the investigation.
“The behaviour was disgusting and the members of the public were outraged ... so they were taking action,” she said.
“The members of the public were not happy ... they were outraged by what they could see … they were yelling at the men.
“We would ask those people if they could come forward and assist us with these investigations. If they could contact Crime Stoppers, we would like to hear from them.”
Victorians who engage in grossly offensive conduct in public can face up to five years in jail if found guilty of the charge.
The legislation was created after gap was identified in penalising gross conduct by Richard Pusey’s offensive behaviour after the Eastern Freeway crash in 2020 that left four police officers dead.
Walker said police were also seeking advice regarding the Racial and Religious Tolerance Act to determine the full extent of potential charges that could apply.
The act prohibits vilification and behaviour inciting or encouraging hatred, serious contempt, and revulsion or severe ridicule because of a person’s race or religion.
“The sign was intended to cause unrest to the community,” Walker said of Friday’s demonstration.
On Friday night, police said officers had been called to the scene at 6.55pm.
Walker said two police officers stationed at Parliament House on Spring Street had called for back-up and made attempts to apprehend the men, who ran towards Fitzroy Gardens.
“Police did call for back-up, and then as soon as they arrived the men ran away,” she said. “We had a large number of men that appeared to be taking a photo opportunity as soon as police arrived.”
Walker said officers then conducted “extensive” patrols of Parliament House and Fitzroy Gardens and surrounding areas, but made no arrests.
On Friday evening, Victoria Police said the force “vehemently condemns antisemitic or racially motivated behaviour in our society and will not tolerate this kind of activity. Investigators are in the process of collecting evidence to identify those involved.”
This masthead has seen other social media posts indicating the masked men are linked to a group of neo-Nazis.
Concerns about rising antisemitism intensified earlier this month when the Addas Israel synagogue in Ripponlea was firebombed in the early hours of the morning.
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton declared the attack a “likely a terrorist incident” and said the force would boost patrols to reassure the Jewish community “that we are there to support and protect them”.
Victorian opposition leader John Pesutto denounced Friday’s demonstration as a “despicable attack” and called for those involved to be arrested and charged.
“It’s clear, from what I’ve seen, that there is a clear argument that what was said and what was done and what was displayed could well represent breaches of existing legislation,” he said on Saturday.
“And if that’s so, we need prosecutions. We need consequences to flow.”
On Tuesday, Premier Jacinta Allan announced plans to criminalise certain behaviours at protests, including wearing masks, and framed the measures – which won’t be introduced until next year – as a response to antisemitism.
Victorians who perform a Nazi salute in public also face hefty fines or up to a year in jail under laws enacted in late 2023.
Earlier this year, white supremacist Jacob Hersant was the first Victorian found guilty of performing a Nazi salute in public, with his prospects for rehabilitation described as low by the prosecution.
Hersant was jailed for one month in November, but then released on appeal bail, after a magistrate found he had shown no remorse for performing a Nazi salute outside the County Court building in October 2023.
Anyone who witnessed the incident, has CCTV, dashcam or any other information that can assist police is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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