Andrews blasts bad behaviour as six fined after Ripponlea synagogue stand-off

A number of worshippers who attended an illegal gathering in Melbourne’s south-east who have not yet spoken to police are being asked to come forward, as the broader Jewish community called for calm amid concerns of a rise in anti-Semitism.

Six people were fined for breaching public health orders after the tense stand-off outside a Ripponlea synagogue on Tuesday, which police believe was attended by about 20 to 30 people, half of them children.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews on Wednesday criticised the “very bad behaviour” of those who had gathered and thanked the leaders of the Jewish community for condemning the public health breaches.

Assistant Commissioner Russell Barrett, from the southern metro region, said police were trying to identify a number of people who were at the venue who have not yet spoken to authorities.

“If you were there yesterday and have not been spoken to, you should come forward,” he said on Wednesday outside Caulfield police station.

Police are also investigating the alleged assault of a news cameraman.

Authorities were notified of the gathering about 6am on Tuesday and police attended the premises but were unable to contact those inside. The all-day stand-off between those inside and police came to an end about 8.20pm.

“We considered a number of approaches on how we would address it, but the information we got was that there was a large number of children involved, so in the end we decided the best approach was to just wait and try and contact people inside and negotiate with them to come out,” he said.

It was not until 7.45pm that officers contacted those inside. However, while that was taking place, another group of community members came into the area and began “distracting police from their role”, he said, and officers moved away from the door.

It was then that people who were inside left the building, some of them over neighbouring roofs, to escape police attention. Police are investigating whether the group that turned up and distracted police did so deliberately.

Assistant Commissioner Barrett described this behaviour as “appalling” and said police had been trying to act in good faith to peacefully negotiate with those inside.

“I’m really disappointed those people chose to do that after we have acted in the way we did. I’m also appalled if the people who came and distracted police at that point in time when we are negotiating an exit did that deliberately because, in my view, that’s a blatant attempt to inhibit a police investigation,” he said.

Asked whether police should have tried to enter the premises earlier in the day, Mr Barrett said he was comfortable with the tactics police had used.

“It’s a real balance in terms of how we keep the community safe ... we had control of the situation.

“When you think about the number of children who are present, it would be incredibly terrifying for them, really, when their parents have placed them in a situation of risk, not just health risk, but in terms of risk breaching a Chief Health Officer’s direction, to have police then force entry.”

Six people will each receive a $5452 fine for breaching COVID-19 restrictions.

Mr Barrett said “the community is rightly outraged, it places everyone’s safety in jeopardy.

“It causes us to delay easing of restrictions by the behaviour of those people, not just yesterday but when anyone gathers across the state of Victoria.”

Police take details from people outside the synagogue on Tuesday night.Credit:Eddie Jim

Anti-Defamation Commission chairman Dvir Abramovich said he was concerned about a rise in anti-Semitism following the incident.

“The racist blame game and finger-pointing has begun, especially on social media, and the Jewish community, which respects and obeys the law, should not be subjected to hatred, scapegoating and vilification because of the actions of a few,” Dr Abramovich said.

“I am very concerned that this troubling episode will serve as an excuse for some to not only seize on fear and traffic in malicious stereotyping and demonisation, but to declare that it is open season on the Jewish community and incite to violence.”

“We know that in times of crisis, those wishing to sow discord can drown out the voices of reason, and there’s a real risk that such singling out and disparaging of Jews will take on a life of its own and end in tragedy.”

Premier Daniel Andrews thanked the Jewish community leadership for calling out what he described as very bad behaviour.

“Their partnership with our government is one of safety, it’s one of trying to keep people out of hospital and limit the spread of this virus and I’m genuinely grateful to those faith and community leaders from the Jewish community who have stood up and called this out,” Mr Andrews said.

“I don’t buy this line that people are not technologically savvy [and don’t know about restrictions]. This has been going for 20 months, everyone knows about this, this is not new.“It’s just not fair.”

He said he hoped the gathering would not result in new cases or that people would not end up in hospital “as a result of those choices that have been made”.

Police take the details of people outside the synagogue on Tuesday. Credit:Darrian Traynor

“But again, I just want to reiterate how grateful I am to faith and cultural leadership across the Jewish community for being very clear about this and calling this out. I’m very, very grateful to them.”

The Jewish Community Council of Victoria expressed strong disappointment and condemned the actions of a small group of people.

“The actions of a few do not represent the vast majority of our community who have celebrated Rosh Hashanah at home only with the people with whom they live, and just like the wider community, continue to follow the rules,” a spokesperson said in a statement on Wednesday morning.

The spokesperson said the council and other organisations had gone to great lengths to inform the community and encourage them to follow the rules and celebrate at home.

Mr Barrett said police were concerned about backlash against the Jewish community after the incident.

“I’m always worried about behaviour in the broader community. What we have here in this area, and in Victoria, is a wonderful multicultural community and a Jewish community, as I’ve said, are appalled by what is very much a small proportion of the community,” he said.

“We’re seeing members of every part of our community breach the CHO directions; we saw it only this week with a highly prominent Instagram influencer. So it’s not just the Jewish community or a small proportion of Jewish community who are breaching, it’s everyone.”

Fewer than 10 people filed out before the media was forced to move away from the scene when a group of people who had gathered outside became aggressive, pushing cameras and yelling insults at journalists.

Police in Ripponlea outside a synagogue on Tuesday.Credit:Darrian Traynor

A cameraman filming the scene said he was assaulted by a man with a blow to the head and had been treated at The Alfred hospital for concussion.

He told The Age the man was one of those standing outside, who at times confronted police and media, and not one of the people leaving the synagogue.

Rosh Hashanah is part of the two-day Jewish New Year and is traditionally marked with a day of prayer and festive meals.

In an email circulated to community members on Friday, the council’s president, Daniel Aghion, said: “This year, as our community celebrates Rosh Hashanah, staying apart keeps us together.”

With Cassandra Morgan

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Simone Fox Koob is a crime reporter for The Age. Most recently she covered breaking news for The Age, and before that for The Australian in Melbourne.Connect via email.

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