Singer, fans perform pro-Nazi salute at Croatia concert
One of Marko Perkovic's most popular songs, played during the late Saturday concert, starts with the dreaded "For the homeland - Ready!" salute, used by Croatia's Nazi-era puppet Ustasha regime that ran concentration camps at the time.
Perkovic, whose stage name is Thompson after a US-made machine gun, had previously said both the song and the salute focused on the 1991-95 ethnic war in Croatia, in which he fought using the American firearm, after the country declared independence from the former Yugoslavia.
He says his controversial song is "a witness of an era".
The 1990s conflict erupted when rebel minority Serbs, backed by neighbouring Serbia, took up guns, intending to split from Croatia and unite with Serbia.
Perkovic's immense popularity in Croatia reflects prevailing nationalist sentiments in the country 30 years after the war ended.
The WWII Ustasha troops in Croatia brutally killed tens of thousands of Serbs, Jews, Roma and antifascist Croats in a string of concentration camps in the country.
Despite documented atrocities, some nationalists still view the Ustasha regime leaders as founders of the independent Croatian state.
Organisers said half a million people attended Perkovic's concert in the Croatian capital.
Video footage aired by Croatian media showed many fans displaying pro-Nazi salutes earlier in the day.
The salute is punishable by law in Croatia, but courts have ruled Perkovic can use it as part of his song, the Croatian state television HRT said.
Perkovic has been banned from performing in some European cities over frequent pro-Nazi references and displays at his gigs.
Croatia's Vecernji List daily wrote that the concert's "supreme organisation" has been overshadowed by the use of the salute of a regime that signed off on "mass executions of people".
Regional N1 television noted that whatever the modern interpretations of the salute might be, its roots were "undoubtedly" in the Ustasha regime.
The station said that while "Germans have made a clear cut" from anything Nazi-related "to prevent crooked interpretations and the return to a dark past ... Croatia is nowhere near that in 2025".
In neighbouring Serbia, populist President Aleksandar Vucic criticised Perkovic's concerts as a display "of support for pro-Nazi values".
Former Serbian liberal leader Boris Tadic said it was a "great shame for Croatia" and "the European Union" because the concert "glorifies the killing of members of one nation, in this case Serbian".
Croatia joined the EU in 2013.
Croatian police said Perkovic's concert was the biggest ever in the country and an unseen security challenge, requiring the deployment of thousands of officers.
No major incidents were reported.
A hugely popular right-wing Croatian singer and hundreds of thousands of his fans have performed a pro-Nazi World War II salute at a massive concert in Zagreb, drawing criticism.
One of Marko Perkovic's most popular songs, played during the late Saturday concert, starts with the dreaded "For the homeland - Ready!" salute, used by Croatia's Nazi-era puppet Ustasha regime that ran concentration camps at the time.
Perkovic, whose stage name is Thompson after a US-made machine gun, had previously said both the song and the salute focused on the 1991-95 ethnic war in Croatia, in which he fought using the American firearm, after the country declared independence from the former Yugoslavia.
He says his controversial song is "a witness of an era".
The 1990s conflict erupted when rebel minority Serbs, backed by neighbouring Serbia, took up guns, intending to split from Croatia and unite with Serbia.
Perkovic's immense popularity in Croatia reflects prevailing nationalist sentiments in the country 30 years after the war ended.
The WWII Ustasha troops in Croatia brutally killed tens of thousands of Serbs, Jews, Roma and antifascist Croats in a string of concentration camps in the country.
Despite documented atrocities, some nationalists still view the Ustasha regime leaders as founders of the independent Croatian state.
Organisers said half a million people attended Perkovic's concert in the Croatian capital.
Video footage aired by Croatian media showed many fans displaying pro-Nazi salutes earlier in the day.
The salute is punishable by law in Croatia, but courts have ruled Perkovic can use it as part of his song, the Croatian state television HRT said.
Perkovic has been banned from performing in some European cities over frequent pro-Nazi references and displays at his gigs.
Croatia's Vecernji List daily wrote that the concert's "supreme organisation" has been overshadowed by the use of the salute of a regime that signed off on "mass executions of people".
Regional N1 television noted that whatever the modern interpretations of the salute might be, its roots were "undoubtedly" in the Ustasha regime.
The station said that while "Germans have made a clear cut" from anything Nazi-related "to prevent crooked interpretations and the return to a dark past ... Croatia is nowhere near that in 2025".
In neighbouring Serbia, populist President Aleksandar Vucic criticised Perkovic's concerts as a display "of support for pro-Nazi values".
Former Serbian liberal leader Boris Tadic said it was a "great shame for Croatia" and "the European Union" because the concert "glorifies the killing of members of one nation, in this case Serbian".
Croatia joined the EU in 2013.
Croatian police said Perkovic's concert was the biggest ever in the country and an unseen security challenge, requiring the deployment of thousands of officers.
No major incidents were reported.
A hugely popular right-wing Croatian singer and hundreds of thousands of his fans have performed a pro-Nazi World War II salute at a massive concert in Zagreb, drawing criticism.
One of Marko Perkovic's most popular songs, played during the late Saturday concert, starts with the dreaded "For the homeland - Ready!" salute, used by Croatia's Nazi-era puppet Ustasha regime that ran concentration camps at the time.
Perkovic, whose stage name is Thompson after a US-made machine gun, had previously said both the song and the salute focused on the 1991-95 ethnic war in Croatia, in which he fought using the American firearm, after the country declared independence from the former Yugoslavia.
He says his controversial song is "a witness of an era".
The 1990s conflict erupted when rebel minority Serbs, backed by neighbouring Serbia, took up guns, intending to split from Croatia and unite with Serbia.
Perkovic's immense popularity in Croatia reflects prevailing nationalist sentiments in the country 30 years after the war ended.
The WWII Ustasha troops in Croatia brutally killed tens of thousands of Serbs, Jews, Roma and antifascist Croats in a string of concentration camps in the country.
Despite documented atrocities, some nationalists still view the Ustasha regime leaders as founders of the independent Croatian state.
Organisers said half a million people attended Perkovic's concert in the Croatian capital.
Video footage aired by Croatian media showed many fans displaying pro-Nazi salutes earlier in the day.
The salute is punishable by law in Croatia, but courts have ruled Perkovic can use it as part of his song, the Croatian state television HRT said.
Perkovic has been banned from performing in some European cities over frequent pro-Nazi references and displays at his gigs.
Croatia's Vecernji List daily wrote that the concert's "supreme organisation" has been overshadowed by the use of the salute of a regime that signed off on "mass executions of people".
Regional N1 television noted that whatever the modern interpretations of the salute might be, its roots were "undoubtedly" in the Ustasha regime.
The station said that while "Germans have made a clear cut" from anything Nazi-related "to prevent crooked interpretations and the return to a dark past ... Croatia is nowhere near that in 2025".
In neighbouring Serbia, populist President Aleksandar Vucic criticised Perkovic's concerts as a display "of support for pro-Nazi values".
Former Serbian liberal leader Boris Tadic said it was a "great shame for Croatia" and "the European Union" because the concert "glorifies the killing of members of one nation, in this case Serbian".
Croatia joined the EU in 2013.
Croatian police said Perkovic's concert was the biggest ever in the country and an unseen security challenge, requiring the deployment of thousands of officers.
No major incidents were reported.
A hugely popular right-wing Croatian singer and hundreds of thousands of his fans have performed a pro-Nazi World War II salute at a massive concert in Zagreb, drawing criticism.
One of Marko Perkovic's most popular songs, played during the late Saturday concert, starts with the dreaded "For the homeland - Ready!" salute, used by Croatia's Nazi-era puppet Ustasha regime that ran concentration camps at the time.
Perkovic, whose stage name is Thompson after a US-made machine gun, had previously said both the song and the salute focused on the 1991-95 ethnic war in Croatia, in which he fought using the American firearm, after the country declared independence from the former Yugoslavia.
He says his controversial song is "a witness of an era".
The 1990s conflict erupted when rebel minority Serbs, backed by neighbouring Serbia, took up guns, intending to split from Croatia and unite with Serbia.
Perkovic's immense popularity in Croatia reflects prevailing nationalist sentiments in the country 30 years after the war ended.
The WWII Ustasha troops in Croatia brutally killed tens of thousands of Serbs, Jews, Roma and antifascist Croats in a string of concentration camps in the country.
Despite documented atrocities, some nationalists still view the Ustasha regime leaders as founders of the independent Croatian state.
Organisers said half a million people attended Perkovic's concert in the Croatian capital.
Video footage aired by Croatian media showed many fans displaying pro-Nazi salutes earlier in the day.
The salute is punishable by law in Croatia, but courts have ruled Perkovic can use it as part of his song, the Croatian state television HRT said.
Perkovic has been banned from performing in some European cities over frequent pro-Nazi references and displays at his gigs.
Croatia's Vecernji List daily wrote that the concert's "supreme organisation" has been overshadowed by the use of the salute of a regime that signed off on "mass executions of people".
Regional N1 television noted that whatever the modern interpretations of the salute might be, its roots were "undoubtedly" in the Ustasha regime.
The station said that while "Germans have made a clear cut" from anything Nazi-related "to prevent crooked interpretations and the return to a dark past ... Croatia is nowhere near that in 2025".
In neighbouring Serbia, populist President Aleksandar Vucic criticised Perkovic's concerts as a display "of support for pro-Nazi values".
Former Serbian liberal leader Boris Tadic said it was a "great shame for Croatia" and "the European Union" because the concert "glorifies the killing of members of one nation, in this case Serbian".
Croatia joined the EU in 2013.
Croatian police said Perkovic's concert was the biggest ever in the country and an unseen security challenge, requiring the deployment of thousands of officers.
No major incidents were reported.
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Fresh vow to stop anti-Semitism with new taskforce
A new anti-hate taskforce charged with tackling the "bigger picture" of anti-Semitism will meet within days, as a premier vows to stamp out hatred towards Jews. At least four violent incidents in Melbourne are being treated as anti-Semitic attacks, including the firebombing of a synagogue on Friday night. Angelo Loras, a 34-year-old man from Sydney's west, faced court on Sunday, accused of setting the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation's front doors alight while 20 people were inside. The congregation had been singing traditional songs as they sat down for dinner after a regular service, when all of a sudden, chaos broke out. "My 13-year-old son comes running in and says, 'something's not right, the doorbell has been ringing'," Rabbi Dovid Gutnick told ABC radio. That's when they saw smoke and flames coming from under the door. Israeli restaurant Miznon in the CBD was targeted by masked pro-Palestinian protesters shortly afterwards, with a window smashed, tables flipped and chairs thrown as the group chanted "death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)". Hours later, a group spray-painted cars with anti-Semitic "inferences" and set them alight outside a Greensborough business in the city's northeast. CCTV footage released by police shows figures in black hooded jumpers lighting the fires, with detectives looking for five people who were last seen fleeing on e-bikes. A fourth incident involved stencils used to spray paint offensive images on pillars and walls near a holocaust museum in Elsternwick. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan visited the synagogue on Monday, after revealing details of the anti-hate taskforce intended to "look at the bigger picture across our city and state". "Just as the fire came to the front door here of this shule, that it was stopped, so too must we put a stop to the hate, put a stop to anti-Semitism," she told reporters outside. The incidents have not been declared terrorist attacks, but Victoria Police is working with counter terrorism officers to see if there are any links between the events. A 28-year-old from Footscray was the only arrest made for allegedly hindering police at Miznon, but has since been released. Police are still working on identifying other protesters involved. A group called Whistleblowers, Activists and Communities Alliance took responsibility for the incident. "While politicians in so-called Australia clutch their pearls over one meal that was interrupted, we ask people to refocus their attention on Israel's genocidal reign of terror over the Palestinians," a statement on the group's Instagram read. 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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said those responsible for the "shocking acts" must face the full force of the law, as the US Embassy in Australia praised the "swift response". Victoria's opposition leader Brad Battin said the state needed to crack down on hate speech at protests by reinstating "move on" laws. Federal opposition frontbencher Melissa McIntosh has called for an urgent national cabinet meeting to deal with the issue. A new anti-hate taskforce charged with tackling the "bigger picture" of anti-Semitism will meet within days, as a premier vows to stamp out hatred towards Jews. At least four violent incidents in Melbourne are being treated as anti-Semitic attacks, including the firebombing of a synagogue on Friday night. Angelo Loras, a 34-year-old man from Sydney's west, faced court on Sunday, accused of setting the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation's front doors alight while 20 people were inside. The congregation had been singing traditional songs as they sat down for dinner after a regular service, when all of a sudden, chaos broke out. "My 13-year-old son comes running in and says, 'something's not right, the doorbell has been ringing'," Rabbi Dovid Gutnick told ABC radio. That's when they saw smoke and flames coming from under the door. Israeli restaurant Miznon in the CBD was targeted by masked pro-Palestinian protesters shortly afterwards, with a window smashed, tables flipped and chairs thrown as the group chanted "death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)". Hours later, a group spray-painted cars with anti-Semitic "inferences" and set them alight outside a Greensborough business in the city's northeast. CCTV footage released by police shows figures in black hooded jumpers lighting the fires, with detectives looking for five people who were last seen fleeing on e-bikes. A fourth incident involved stencils used to spray paint offensive images on pillars and walls near a holocaust museum in Elsternwick. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan visited the synagogue on Monday, after revealing details of the anti-hate taskforce intended to "look at the bigger picture across our city and state". "Just as the fire came to the front door here of this shule, that it was stopped, so too must we put a stop to the hate, put a stop to anti-Semitism," she told reporters outside. The incidents have not been declared terrorist attacks, but Victoria Police is working with counter terrorism officers to see if there are any links between the events. A 28-year-old from Footscray was the only arrest made for allegedly hindering police at Miznon, but has since been released. Police are still working on identifying other protesters involved. A group called Whistleblowers, Activists and Communities Alliance took responsibility for the incident. "While politicians in so-called Australia clutch their pearls over one meal that was interrupted, we ask people to refocus their attention on Israel's genocidal reign of terror over the Palestinians," a statement on the group's Instagram read. Rabbi Gutnick said his community was reeling from the incident, and that people can carry empathy for one group without descending into hate. "There is a boundary, and people have gone beyond the pale in the things that they've said and now in the things that are being done," he said. "Words don't end at words. They lead to actions." Victoria Police, the state government and Lord Mayor of Melbourne Nicholas Reece will this week examine police powers to stamp out extreme and violent protests. "We back our police, we're giving them more powers," the premier said. Ms Allan promised bans on protests outside places of worship and demonstrators wearing face coverings after a blaze destroyed two buildings at the Adass Israel Synagogue in the city's south in December. However, the legislation is yet to be introduced to state parliament. The attacks drew an international response, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanding action against the "rioters". Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said those responsible for the "shocking acts" must face the full force of the law, as the US Embassy in Australia praised the "swift response". Victoria's opposition leader Brad Battin said the state needed to crack down on hate speech at protests by reinstating "move on" laws. Federal opposition frontbencher Melissa McIntosh has called for an urgent national cabinet meeting to deal with the issue. A new anti-hate taskforce charged with tackling the "bigger picture" of anti-Semitism will meet within days, as a premier vows to stamp out hatred towards Jews. At least four violent incidents in Melbourne are being treated as anti-Semitic attacks, including the firebombing of a synagogue on Friday night. Angelo Loras, a 34-year-old man from Sydney's west, faced court on Sunday, accused of setting the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation's front doors alight while 20 people were inside. The congregation had been singing traditional songs as they sat down for dinner after a regular service, when all of a sudden, chaos broke out. "My 13-year-old son comes running in and says, 'something's not right, the doorbell has been ringing'," Rabbi Dovid Gutnick told ABC radio. That's when they saw smoke and flames coming from under the door. Israeli restaurant Miznon in the CBD was targeted by masked pro-Palestinian protesters shortly afterwards, with a window smashed, tables flipped and chairs thrown as the group chanted "death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)". Hours later, a group spray-painted cars with anti-Semitic "inferences" and set them alight outside a Greensborough business in the city's northeast. CCTV footage released by police shows figures in black hooded jumpers lighting the fires, with detectives looking for five people who were last seen fleeing on e-bikes. A fourth incident involved stencils used to spray paint offensive images on pillars and walls near a holocaust museum in Elsternwick. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan visited the synagogue on Monday, after revealing details of the anti-hate taskforce intended to "look at the bigger picture across our city and state". "Just as the fire came to the front door here of this shule, that it was stopped, so too must we put a stop to the hate, put a stop to anti-Semitism," she told reporters outside. The incidents have not been declared terrorist attacks, but Victoria Police is working with counter terrorism officers to see if there are any links between the events. A 28-year-old from Footscray was the only arrest made for allegedly hindering police at Miznon, but has since been released. Police are still working on identifying other protesters involved. A group called Whistleblowers, Activists and Communities Alliance took responsibility for the incident. "While politicians in so-called Australia clutch their pearls over one meal that was interrupted, we ask people to refocus their attention on Israel's genocidal reign of terror over the Palestinians," a statement on the group's Instagram read. Rabbi Gutnick said his community was reeling from the incident, and that people can carry empathy for one group without descending into hate. "There is a boundary, and people have gone beyond the pale in the things that they've said and now in the things that are being done," he said. "Words don't end at words. They lead to actions." Victoria Police, the state government and Lord Mayor of Melbourne Nicholas Reece will this week examine police powers to stamp out extreme and violent protests. "We back our police, we're giving them more powers," the premier said. Ms Allan promised bans on protests outside places of worship and demonstrators wearing face coverings after a blaze destroyed two buildings at the Adass Israel Synagogue in the city's south in December. However, the legislation is yet to be introduced to state parliament. The attacks drew an international response, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanding action against the "rioters". Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said those responsible for the "shocking acts" must face the full force of the law, as the US Embassy in Australia praised the "swift response". Victoria's opposition leader Brad Battin said the state needed to crack down on hate speech at protests by reinstating "move on" laws. Federal opposition frontbencher Melissa McIntosh has called for an urgent national cabinet meeting to deal with the issue. A new anti-hate taskforce charged with tackling the "bigger picture" of anti-Semitism will meet within days, as a premier vows to stamp out hatred towards Jews. At least four violent incidents in Melbourne are being treated as anti-Semitic attacks, including the firebombing of a synagogue on Friday night. Angelo Loras, a 34-year-old man from Sydney's west, faced court on Sunday, accused of setting the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation's front doors alight while 20 people were inside. The congregation had been singing traditional songs as they sat down for dinner after a regular service, when all of a sudden, chaos broke out. "My 13-year-old son comes running in and says, 'something's not right, the doorbell has been ringing'," Rabbi Dovid Gutnick told ABC radio. That's when they saw smoke and flames coming from under the door. Israeli restaurant Miznon in the CBD was targeted by masked pro-Palestinian protesters shortly afterwards, with a window smashed, tables flipped and chairs thrown as the group chanted "death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)". Hours later, a group spray-painted cars with anti-Semitic "inferences" and set them alight outside a Greensborough business in the city's northeast. CCTV footage released by police shows figures in black hooded jumpers lighting the fires, with detectives looking for five people who were last seen fleeing on e-bikes. A fourth incident involved stencils used to spray paint offensive images on pillars and walls near a holocaust museum in Elsternwick. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan visited the synagogue on Monday, after revealing details of the anti-hate taskforce intended to "look at the bigger picture across our city and state". "Just as the fire came to the front door here of this shule, that it was stopped, so too must we put a stop to the hate, put a stop to anti-Semitism," she told reporters outside. The incidents have not been declared terrorist attacks, but Victoria Police is working with counter terrorism officers to see if there are any links between the events. A 28-year-old from Footscray was the only arrest made for allegedly hindering police at Miznon, but has since been released. Police are still working on identifying other protesters involved. A group called Whistleblowers, Activists and Communities Alliance took responsibility for the incident. "While politicians in so-called Australia clutch their pearls over one meal that was interrupted, we ask people to refocus their attention on Israel's genocidal reign of terror over the Palestinians," a statement on the group's Instagram read. Rabbi Gutnick said his community was reeling from the incident, and that people can carry empathy for one group without descending into hate. "There is a boundary, and people have gone beyond the pale in the things that they've said and now in the things that are being done," he said. "Words don't end at words. They lead to actions." Victoria Police, the state government and Lord Mayor of Melbourne Nicholas Reece will this week examine police powers to stamp out extreme and violent protests. "We back our police, we're giving them more powers," the premier said. Ms Allan promised bans on protests outside places of worship and demonstrators wearing face coverings after a blaze destroyed two buildings at the Adass Israel Synagogue in the city's south in December. However, the legislation is yet to be introduced to state parliament. The attacks drew an international response, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanding action against the "rioters". Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said those responsible for the "shocking acts" must face the full force of the law, as the US Embassy in Australia praised the "swift response". Victoria's opposition leader Brad Battin said the state needed to crack down on hate speech at protests by reinstating "move on" laws. Federal opposition frontbencher Melissa McIntosh has called for an urgent national cabinet meeting to deal with the issue.
The Advertiser
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New taskforce to tackle hate after anti-Semitic attacks
NEW ANTI-HATE TASKFORCE * Assigned with tackling hateful behaviour and looking at the bigger picture across Victoria * Members will include the premier, police minister, Victoria Police, the Melbourne lord mayor and Jewish community voices, with more stakeholders to be added * Initial meeting this week will be about getting advice from Victoria Police on how anti-vilification laws will be put into operation * Taskforce will update the premier on progress from local meetings with the Jewish community * It will also update on the progress of community consultations and legislation for increased police powers to stamp out extreme and violent protest * It will build on anti-vilification laws, greater police powers to come into effect and the work on legislation to ban masks at protests MELBOURNE'S ALLEGED ANTI-SEMITIC ATTACKS: East Melbourne Hebrew Synagogue * Firebombed on Friday night with 20 worshippers inside for a Shabbat dinner * A man allegedly poured a flammable liquid on the front door and set it alight * Angelo Loras, a 34-year-old from Sydney's west, was arrested in Melbourne, with detectives investigating his intent and ideology * He was charged with reckless conduct endanger life, criminal damage by fire, and possess a controlled weapon CBD Israeli restaurant * A group who splintered off from an earlier protest allegedly smashed a window, flipped tables and threw chairs outside Israeli restaurant Miznon in the Melbourne CBD on Friday night * Protest organisers said the restaurant was targeted because it was part-owned by Israeli businessman Shahar Segal, a spokesman for a food aid group backed by Israel and the US * A 28-year-old from Footscray was arrested for hindering police and released on summons * Police chief commissioner Mike Bush will examine the police response to the protest outside the restaurant Greensborough business * Three cars and a wall were spray-painted outside a Greensborough business in Melbourne's northeast in the early hours of Saturday * One vehicle was destroyed and two damaged after being set alight * There were "inferences of anti-Semitism" and the business has been subjected to pro-Palestinian activity in the past year, police said Elsternwick business * Offenders used stencils to allegedly spray paint offensive images on pillars at a busy intersection and on walls in Elsternwick on Sunday * Police have not established links between the incidents NEW ANTI-HATE TASKFORCE * Assigned with tackling hateful behaviour and looking at the bigger picture across Victoria * Members will include the premier, police minister, Victoria Police, the Melbourne lord mayor and Jewish community voices, with more stakeholders to be added * Initial meeting this week will be about getting advice from Victoria Police on how anti-vilification laws will be put into operation * Taskforce will update the premier on progress from local meetings with the Jewish community * It will also update on the progress of community consultations and legislation for increased police powers to stamp out extreme and violent protest * It will build on anti-vilification laws, greater police powers to come into effect and the work on legislation to ban masks at protests MELBOURNE'S ALLEGED ANTI-SEMITIC ATTACKS: East Melbourne Hebrew Synagogue * Firebombed on Friday night with 20 worshippers inside for a Shabbat dinner * A man allegedly poured a flammable liquid on the front door and set it alight * Angelo Loras, a 34-year-old from Sydney's west, was arrested in Melbourne, with detectives investigating his intent and ideology * He was charged with reckless conduct endanger life, criminal damage by fire, and possess a controlled weapon CBD Israeli restaurant * A group who splintered off from an earlier protest allegedly smashed a window, flipped tables and threw chairs outside Israeli restaurant Miznon in the Melbourne CBD on Friday night * Protest organisers said the restaurant was targeted because it was part-owned by Israeli businessman Shahar Segal, a spokesman for a food aid group backed by Israel and the US * A 28-year-old from Footscray was arrested for hindering police and released on summons * Police chief commissioner Mike Bush will examine the police response to the protest outside the restaurant Greensborough business * Three cars and a wall were spray-painted outside a Greensborough business in Melbourne's northeast in the early hours of Saturday * One vehicle was destroyed and two damaged after being set alight * There were "inferences of anti-Semitism" and the business has been subjected to pro-Palestinian activity in the past year, police said Elsternwick business * Offenders used stencils to allegedly spray paint offensive images on pillars at a busy intersection and on walls in Elsternwick on Sunday * Police have not established links between the incidents NEW ANTI-HATE TASKFORCE * Assigned with tackling hateful behaviour and looking at the bigger picture across Victoria * Members will include the premier, police minister, Victoria Police, the Melbourne lord mayor and Jewish community voices, with more stakeholders to be added * Initial meeting this week will be about getting advice from Victoria Police on how anti-vilification laws will be put into operation * Taskforce will update the premier on progress from local meetings with the Jewish community * It will also update on the progress of community consultations and legislation for increased police powers to stamp out extreme and violent protest * It will build on anti-vilification laws, greater police powers to come into effect and the work on legislation to ban masks at protests MELBOURNE'S ALLEGED ANTI-SEMITIC ATTACKS: East Melbourne Hebrew Synagogue * Firebombed on Friday night with 20 worshippers inside for a Shabbat dinner * A man allegedly poured a flammable liquid on the front door and set it alight * Angelo Loras, a 34-year-old from Sydney's west, was arrested in Melbourne, with detectives investigating his intent and ideology * He was charged with reckless conduct endanger life, criminal damage by fire, and possess a controlled weapon CBD Israeli restaurant * A group who splintered off from an earlier protest allegedly smashed a window, flipped tables and threw chairs outside Israeli restaurant Miznon in the Melbourne CBD on Friday night * Protest organisers said the restaurant was targeted because it was part-owned by Israeli businessman Shahar Segal, a spokesman for a food aid group backed by Israel and the US * A 28-year-old from Footscray was arrested for hindering police and released on summons * Police chief commissioner Mike Bush will examine the police response to the protest outside the restaurant Greensborough business * Three cars and a wall were spray-painted outside a Greensborough business in Melbourne's northeast in the early hours of Saturday * One vehicle was destroyed and two damaged after being set alight * There were "inferences of anti-Semitism" and the business has been subjected to pro-Palestinian activity in the past year, police said Elsternwick business * Offenders used stencils to allegedly spray paint offensive images on pillars at a busy intersection and on walls in Elsternwick on Sunday * Police have not established links between the incidents NEW ANTI-HATE TASKFORCE * Assigned with tackling hateful behaviour and looking at the bigger picture across Victoria * Members will include the premier, police minister, Victoria Police, the Melbourne lord mayor and Jewish community voices, with more stakeholders to be added * Initial meeting this week will be about getting advice from Victoria Police on how anti-vilification laws will be put into operation * Taskforce will update the premier on progress from local meetings with the Jewish community * It will also update on the progress of community consultations and legislation for increased police powers to stamp out extreme and violent protest * It will build on anti-vilification laws, greater police powers to come into effect and the work on legislation to ban masks at protests MELBOURNE'S ALLEGED ANTI-SEMITIC ATTACKS: East Melbourne Hebrew Synagogue * Firebombed on Friday night with 20 worshippers inside for a Shabbat dinner * A man allegedly poured a flammable liquid on the front door and set it alight * Angelo Loras, a 34-year-old from Sydney's west, was arrested in Melbourne, with detectives investigating his intent and ideology * He was charged with reckless conduct endanger life, criminal damage by fire, and possess a controlled weapon CBD Israeli restaurant * A group who splintered off from an earlier protest allegedly smashed a window, flipped tables and threw chairs outside Israeli restaurant Miznon in the Melbourne CBD on Friday night * Protest organisers said the restaurant was targeted because it was part-owned by Israeli businessman Shahar Segal, a spokesman for a food aid group backed by Israel and the US * A 28-year-old from Footscray was arrested for hindering police and released on summons * Police chief commissioner Mike Bush will examine the police response to the protest outside the restaurant Greensborough business * Three cars and a wall were spray-painted outside a Greensborough business in Melbourne's northeast in the early hours of Saturday * One vehicle was destroyed and two damaged after being set alight * There were "inferences of anti-Semitism" and the business has been subjected to pro-Palestinian activity in the past year, police said Elsternwick business * Offenders used stencils to allegedly spray paint offensive images on pillars at a busy intersection and on walls in Elsternwick on Sunday * Police have not established links between the incidents
Perth Now
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- Perth Now
New taskforce to tackle hate after anti-Semitic attacks
NEW ANTI-HATE TASKFORCE * Assigned with tackling hateful behaviour and looking at the bigger picture across Victoria * Members will include the premier, police minister, Victoria Police, the Melbourne lord mayor and Jewish community voices, with more stakeholders to be added * Initial meeting this week will be about getting advice from Victoria Police on how anti-vilification laws will be put into operation * Taskforce will update the premier on progress from local meetings with the Jewish community * It will also update on the progress of community consultations and legislation for increased police powers to stamp out extreme and violent protest * It will build on anti-vilification laws, greater police powers to come into effect and the work on legislation to ban masks at protests MELBOURNE'S ALLEGED ANTI-SEMITIC ATTACKS: East Melbourne Hebrew Synagogue * Firebombed on Friday night with 20 worshippers inside for a Shabbat dinner * A man allegedly poured a flammable liquid on the front door and set it alight * Angelo Loras, a 34-year-old from Sydney's west, was arrested in Melbourne, with detectives investigating his intent and ideology * He was charged with reckless conduct endanger life, criminal damage by fire, and possess a controlled weapon CBD Israeli restaurant * A group who splintered off from an earlier protest allegedly smashed a window, flipped tables and threw chairs outside Israeli restaurant Miznon in the Melbourne CBD on Friday night * Protest organisers said the restaurant was targeted because it was part-owned by Israeli businessman Shahar Segal, a spokesman for a food aid group backed by Israel and the US * A 28-year-old from Footscray was arrested for hindering police and released on summons * Police chief commissioner Mike Bush will examine the police response to the protest outside the restaurant Greensborough business * Three cars and a wall were spray-painted outside a Greensborough business in Melbourne's northeast in the early hours of Saturday * One vehicle was destroyed and two damaged after being set alight * There were "inferences of anti-Semitism" and the business has been subjected to pro-Palestinian activity in the past year, police said Elsternwick business * Offenders used stencils to allegedly spray paint offensive images on pillars at a busy intersection and on walls in Elsternwick on Sunday * Police have not established links between the incidents
