Five Jewish boys “ran for their lives” while Nazi slogans were yelled at them in Melbourne on Monday night, the father of one of the boys has said, with the prime minister condemning the “antisemitic hate incident”.
Victoria police said the five Jewish teenagers, all aged 15 or 16, had just finished school studies in Ripponlea and were walking home on Glen Eira Road in St Kilda East about 9.50pm when a white ute, later confirmed to be stolen, drove past.
Police alleged the people inside the ute “yelled antisemitic abuse” at the boys before stopping their vehicle a short distance away.
Acting commander Adrian Healy said the ute pulled over, conducted a U-turn and, as the boys were crossing the road, “deliberately drove at them” before running a red light and “scouring the area, continuing to look for them”.
No one was injured and the vehicle remained in the area for “roughly five to six minutes” before leaving the scene, Healy said.
Anthony Albanese said the alleged “antisemitic hate incident … targeting young Jewish boys has no place in our country”.
He said it would have been a “terrifying ordeal” for the young Australians to be allegedly targeted for their Jewish faith.
“At a time when Australians are joining with the Jewish community in sorrow and solidarity, it is beyond disgusting to see these cowards shouting Nazi slogans at young people,” he said.
“Victorian police are investigating and I want to see the perpetrators face the full force of the law.”
The father of one of the boys, prominent Adass community leader Chayim Klein, said the boys were “resilient” and returned to school but it had been “very scary for them”.
“They were just coming out of school when the white ute was circling, screaming antisemitic abuse at them,” he said, adding the alleged perpetrators performed a Nazi salute.
“They are the grandchildren of Holocaust survivors. Being religious Jews, we do get abuse hurled at us which they’re resilient to, but they literally ran for their lives.
“They [the perpetrators] were shouting abuse, threatening to come back and stab them.
“There’s no question we’re grateful what for what government and police have done. The question is why do we need this protection? An attack on a Jew is an attack on Australians.”
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In a statement on Tuesday, detectives from the Moorabbin Crime Investigation Unit said they had identified two male persons of interest and were following up a “number of avenues of inquiry”.
Police alleged the perpetrators were also likely linked to a series of offending in the area, including two aggravated burglaries and vehicle theft.
Healy said the two persons of interest had been identified by police in relation to the car, which had been stolen over the weekend. They were still being sought out.
The state’s premier, Jacinta Allan, said antisemitic behaviour “has absolutely no place here in Victoria”.
She said if the alleged perpetrators had performed a Nazi salute, “that salute is banned here in Victoria, you can be prosecuted for that, and Victoria police will be investigating”.
“We already have the strongest anti-hate laws in the nation and my plan is to strengthen those anti-hate laws when parliament returns,” she said.
Josh Burns, the federal member for Macnamara, which covers St Kilda and Elsternwick, said the area was a “hub of Jewish life” where people deserved to feel safe.
“That community literally are the descendants of Holocaust survivors … who came to Australia looking for a safe haven, and it was a safe haven,” he told Sky News on Tuesday afternoon.
“To see that happen is just unacceptable.”
The CEO of the Jewish Community Council of Victoria, Naomi Levin, said it was a “disgraceful, antisemitic attack”.
“Video is circulating of a group of a school-age Jewish boys being physically and verbally threatened in East St Kilda last night,” she said.
“The boys, who were outside a Jewish community and education centre, reported that the individuals in the car performed Nazi salutes, shouted Nazi slogans and followed them as they tried to reach a safe place.
“The perpetrators must be arrested and face the new, stronger Victorian anti-vilification laws.”
A Victoria police spokesperson said there was “absolutely no place in our society for antisemitic, racist or hate-based behaviour and such activity will not be tolerated”.
“The investigation remains ongoing, and police are urging anyone with CCTV or dashcam footage of the incident or the vehicle in the area to come forward,” they said.
The incident occurred near the Adass Israel synagogue in Melbourne, built by Holocaust survivors who fled Europe, which was subject to an arson attack in the early hours of 6 December 2024.
The arson was condemned at the time by Allan as a hateful and violent “act of antisemitism”.
Anyone who witnessed the incident or with footage is being urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report at crimestoppersvic.com.au
