Melbourne, Australia – A second race attack against Jewish teenagers has occurred in St Kilda with four youths assaulted during an anti-Jewish rant.
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The assault, in which two 14 and 15-year-old Jewish boys were punched, followed an August attack in nearby Carlisle St in which a Jewish boy was set on by men wielding a baseball bat, as was reported here on Vos Iz Neias.
Police interviewed two suspects in relation to the first assault and it is believed at least one of those men was involved in this bashing.
One of the victims said, while anti-Semitic abuse was a feature of both assaults, the victims believed they were targeted indiscriminately by drug-addicted attackers.
He said the assailants yelled anti-Semitic comments as they attacked the group of four boys; two of whom were physically assaulted, one suffering swelling to the face.
B'nai B'rith Anti-Defamation Commission executive officer Manny Waks said, "If we are going to use drugs and alcohol as an excuse to mitigate the assaults I think that is a concern," Mr Waks said. [Herald Sun]
POLICE and community leaders have urged the Jewish community to act with caution after another assault in the heart of Jewish Melbourne.
On Monday night at approximately 9pm, six Jewish men were confronted by a group of men near the Balaclava railway station on Carlisle Street.
It is alleged that the group of men shouted anti-Jewish remarks. Two of the Jewish men were apparently punched, both were injured in the resulting fracas, and one was later treated by Hatzolah.
The Jewish men made a statement at St Kilda police station and police are investigating the incident.
A spokesman from St Kilda police said it would be unwise to conclude the assault was racially motivated without a thorough investigation.
It is understood that there may be a connection between this attack and the alleged violent assault in August outside Mister Glick’s, a cafe opposite the site of Monday night’s attack.
B’nai B’rith Anti-Defamation Commission executive director Manny Waks condemned the attack in the heart of Jewish Melbourne.
“We are seriously concerned,” Waks said. “These assaults have become too much of a regular feature when individuals from the Jewish community are being assaulted.
“We don’t need to be alarmist … but I would urge Jewish community members to respond cautiously.”
A similar sentiment was expressed by Gavin Queit from the Community Security Group.
Queit condemned the attack, but said he would not comment further, except to say that the police were investigating.