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Teenager bashed in anti-semitic attack

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MELBOURNE'S Jewish community has been rocked by an anti-Semitic attack in which a teenager was bashed with a baseball bat and a restaurant diner punched in the face.

Police are investigating the series of violent incidents, which occurred shortly after midnight on Saturday night in Balaclava, in Melbourne's Jewish heartland.

A 17-year-old boy, an Orthodox Jew, was bashed with a baseball bat by three men who also smashed cars parked outside a Jewish restaurant.

The attack started when three men approached a group of Jewish men who were standing outside a restaurant on Carlisle Street in Balaclava. When the Jewish men went inside the restaurant, Mr Glicks, the men followed, punched a diner in the face and smashed windows.

The Jewish group B'nai B'rith said yesterday the attackers also vandalised cars parked outside the restaurant. Police were called, but the attackers had fled by the time they arrived.

However, about half an hour later, the men returned, this time with baseball bats. Teenager Alon Tam told The Australian he was walking along the street when he heard his friends shouting "Run, run, they're coming".

Two men armed with baseball bats then started hitting him.

"They each came up to me with a baseball bat and came from both sides, bashing me, and told me that I'm a f...ing Jew and I deserve to die," Mr Tam said.

He said he was hit on the chest and arms but managed to escape major injury. He was treated at the scene, but did not need to attend hospital.

Police were again called following the assault. Helicopters scoured the area looking for the attackers, but the men were not found.

Jewish groups yesterday condemned the attack, which they said was particularly concerning given that it occurred within a few hundred metres of an attack on Jewish man Menachem Vorchheimer, who was set upon by a group of young footballers in the same suburb in October last year.

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Original piece is http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22273307-5006785,00.html

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I believe that these attacks may have been inspired by muslims who, like the fascists,have chosen to instigate others bto do their dirty work for them, and also take the blame, This is meant to propagate the lie that islam is a peaceful religion.

Posted on 2007-08-23 13:12:42 GMT

I'd like to support the views suggesting that we take this VERY SERIOUSLY. Regardless of whether this is "general hoologanism" or someone "working alone", it is unacceptable. The last thing we need now is a ghetto-mentality response: "play it down.... don't make a fuss...it's not a big deal" etc etc THAT'S RUBBISH. I agree that we should start with actions we, ourselves can take, including security cameras and vigilance in relation to our own security. Step two is to ensure that the authorities are aware of our deep concern and expectation that the police and other authorities will pursue the perpetrators with full vigour.

Posted by SL on 2007-08-20 06:59:39 GMT

What anti-Semitic attack? According to our ABC (see http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/08/19/2009037.htm?section=australia) we only have an ALLEGED incident. Indeed. And we can be sure that our ABC are equally punctillious in inserting the qualifier "alleged" for each and every report of attacks on non-Jews, yes?

Posted by Nathan on 2007-08-20 06:17:11 GMT

I'll put in my bit for what it is worth. We need to know more about the attack. Who did it? Does this represent a larger group or is it a loner? Did the attacked stand out because of an individual style of dress? That would not excuse it but it seems to be a sad part of human nature to dislike people who look different. If so would the attacker have disliked a Jew who dressed and looked like the majority? I am old enough to remember the dislike for Catholics in the 40s and 50s. Perhaps it is an extension of that sort of attitude. We must reserve our judgment until we have better information. Then we will be able to take action if needed. You just can't an invisible target.

Posted by Peter on 2007-08-20 05:01:08 GMT

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