Covid-19 Australia Cops swarm Melbourne synagogue after 100 worshippers celebrate Jewish New Year

Dozens of Jewish worshippers illegally gathered at a Melbourne synagogue have been issued with $5,452 fines after wild scenes saw some confront police and climb onto the roof of a nearby building 

An estimated 100 people attended all-day Jewish New Year celebrations at the orthodox Adass Israel Synagogue in Glen Eira Avenue, Ripponlea, with Victoria Police dispersing the group around 9pm on Tuesday.

The standoff ended with police issuing $5,452 fines to ‘all adults who attended’ the celebrations, which caused outrage among neighbours who were obeying the city’s lockdown.

An illegal gathering celebrating Jewish New Year in Melbourne ended with fiery scenes and police moving in to shut down the event and issuing $5,452 fines to ‘all adults’ who attended

Police shut down the illegal gathering on Tuesday night after waiting for the attendees to disperse during the day 

A second, smaller illegal prayer group assembled for Jewish New Year was also dispersed by police from an apartment above the Ripponlea IGA supermarket, also on Glen Eira Avenue.

Police were understood to have been made aware of the illegal gatherings on Tuesday morning and reports indicated they waited for people to exit the celebrations during the day.

But tensions grew as worshippers and their supporters confronted police in the early evening.

Two worshippers climbed onto a nearby roof around 6pm as the confrontations ignited with some supporters heard abusing police and accusing media and health authorities of anti-Semitism. 

A group of mask-wearing men pass police near the synagogue 

The main illegal gathering occurred at Adass Israel Synagogue in Glen Eira Avenue, Ripponlea in inner Melbourne as a Jewish New Year celebration

Police moved in to end the standoff after 8pm on Tuesday.

Eye witnesses said supporters chanted, pushed cameras and yelled insults at media who assembled as news of the extended standoff spread on Tuesday afternoon.

Jewish New Year celebrations, known as Rosh Hashanah, commenced on Monday September 6 and last until the evening of Wednesday September 8. 

They are mostly observed privately.

It is understood people began gathering the Adass synagogue on Monday evening, setting up for a major event.

A witness claimed to have seen two groups of ’20-30′ people without masks entering the synagogue throughout temporary fencing.

‘I just think this behaviour from anyone in society at this time is just appalling, it’s disgusting really because small businesses are already hurting, and this is just extending what’s already happening,’ Steve Davis told 9News.

Victoria Police broke up two Jewish New Year celebrations that took place on Tuesday in breach of Covid restrictions

Families were among the groups joining in the illegal Jewish New Year celebrations on Tuesday

‘Victoria Police has spoken to a number of people who attended an address on Glen Eira Road, Elsternwick on Tuesday 7 September,’ a Victorian Police statement said.

‘All adults who attended will be issued with a $5452 fine. A number of children who were present will not be fined. Investigators believe a number of other people were present and are yet to be spoken to by police. Investigators are working to identify them.’ 

Earlier, police blocked roads around the synagogue where an estimated 100 worshippers celebrated Jewish New Year.

It is understood the worshippers refused to leave the two buildings on Tuesday despite Police attempts to contact them.

Victorian police confirmed as of Tuesday evening they are conducting an operation focused on potential Covid breaches. It is understood around 100 Jewish New Year worshippers are holding illegal gatherings (pictured) and have refused to comply with police directions

Victoria’s Delta Covid outbreak worsened on Tuesday with 246 cases announced. 

Under Melbourne’s latest lockdown, which began on August 5 and is still in place, no private or public gatherings are allowed. 

All the worshippers are risking $5,452 fines for breaching health directions around gatherings.

One of the two premises holding Jewish New Year gatherings in breach of Melbourne’s lockdown on Tuesday is believed to be located above this Ripponlea IGA

Victorian Police confirmed in a statement to Daily Mail Australia that they ‘are currently in the Elsternwick and surrounding areas responding to reports of potential CHO breaches’.

‘As this is ongoing we don’t have any further information at this stage.’ 

Police are understood to have attended both buildings on Tuesday morning but it is believed they did not remove or arrest worshippers, who are believed to have refused to leave and are still there on Tuesday evening.

Police have blocked roads around two inner Melbourne buildings with an estimated 100 worshippers celebrating Jewish New Year believed to be in breach of Covid restrictions. One of the two venues hosting Jewish New Year celebrations is understood to be the Adass Israel Synagogue (pictured)

It is understood people in two separate buildings in the inner Melbourne suburb of Ripponlea have been hosting Jewish New Year celebrations in breach of Victoria’s lockdown restrictions. This image is believed to show people preparing for the celebrations

Journalists on the scene were told nobody was inside the synagogue, but they were contradicted by ‘multiple witnesses who live nearby who say there have been people in one building since 8pm [on Monday] night and a second building since 4.30am [on Tuesday].’

Officers blocked roads and laneways surrounding the two buildings and were believed to be preparing to issue fines for Covid breaches when the worshippers exit.

It was understood Victorian Health officials are with Victorian Police.

Daily Mail Australia left messages for Adass Israel Synagogue but it is understood during Rosh Hashanah worshippers do not use their phones.

Reports on social media also said police responded to reports of worshippers gathering in large numbers and when they knocked at the synagogue those inside refused to allow them inside.

Social media users expressed frustration and anger at the worshippers for failing to follow directions that most of the state’s residents are complying with, even if reluctantly at times.

Victorian Police are believed to be assembled on Glen Eira Street at Ripponlea waiting for worshippers celebrating Jewish New Year in order to issue fines for breaching Victoria’s public health orders

VICTORIA’S STATEWIDE LOCKDOWN â€" ALL THE RESTRICTIONS YOU NEED TO KNOW

A lockdown for regional Victoria applies August 21 with restrictions in line with Melbourne minus the curfew. 

A curfew for those in Melbourne only includes: 

Between 9:00pm and 5:00am, you cannot leave your home (or the home of your intimate partner or bubble buddy) except for limited reasons including:

â€" authorised work

â€" health and medical purposes

â€" care and support of a child or someone with special needs

â€" in an emergency or to escape harm

Across Victoria you cannot leave your home other than for one of the five following reasons:

â€" shopping for necessary goods and services

â€" caregiving or compassionate reasons, including medical care or to get a COVID-19 test

â€" authorised work (with a permit) or permitted education

â€" exercise (once a day for 2 hours, no more than 5km from where you live)

â€" to get a COVID-19 vaccination

Victorians may also leave home to visit their intimate partner, their single social bubble buddy, or in an emergency â€" including those at risk of family violence.

You must stay within 5km of your home for shopping and exercise. This limit does not apply to permitted work or education, when giving or receiving care, getting a COVID-19 vaccination or visiting an intimate partner or your single social bubble buddy.

Residents of Metropolitan Melbourne must not travel to regional Victoria other than for permitted reasons. These include:

â€" for authorised work or permitted education

â€" to visit an intimate partner

â€" for care and compassionate reasons

â€" to access COVID-19 vaccination provided it is to the closest facility where vaccination can be obtained, or

â€" to access necessary good and services provided this is to the closest facility where these can be obtained. 

Face masks must be worn indoors and outdoors whenever you leave your home.

Public gatherings are not allowed across the state.  

Childcare will be limited to only essential workers and vulnerable families using a permit system that was used in 2020. 

Children at primary school are also asked to wear masks but this is not mandatory. 

Weddings cannot proceed and funerals are capped at 10 attendees. 

Across the state construction sites will only be allowed to have 25 per cent of their workers on site. 

Essential shops remain open. Cafes and pubs will be able to remain open for takeaway only. 

Advertisement

Source: Daily Mail

Share this post