John Abney-Hastings
08-20-2007, 06:08 PM
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22270756-1243,00.html
TWO men with baseball bats beat a teenage Orthodox Jew outside a Melbourne restaurant in a racist attack overnight, Jewish leaders said today.
The boy, Alon Tam, said the two men yelled “f---ing Jew, you deserve to die,” as they bashed him with the bats near Mister Glicks restaurant in suburban Balaclava.
In a joint statement, the Jewish Community Council of Victoria (JCCV) and the B'nai B'rith Anti-Defamation Commission (ADC) labelled the attack an outrage.
Police confirmed they were investigating the incident, but were unable to provide any details.
Alon said a friend nearby had warned him to run from the men, but he failed to get away in time.
“I couldn't even think what was going on I was just shocked and nervous,” he said.
“You always think that you're in Australia, a multicultural society, in the 21st century, but some people still act like barbarians.”
He is suffering soreness and some bruising to his upper body, he said.
Alon's friend Ethraim Manshari, 17, said the trouble began about 45 minutes before the attack.
Ethraim first saw the attackers chasing another man along the street and yelling “f---ing Arabs”.
Ethraim said he was working last night at Mister Glicks restaurant on Carlisle Street and was outside talking to friends around midnight when he was approached by the men.
“I said, `guys, don't even look at them, I don't want anything to happen,”' he said.
He said the two men approached and asked him if he wanted a fight, to which he replied, “nah, mate, I'm going to go inside”.
The men allegedly punched a customer in the face and started smashing the restaurant windows.
Ethraim said he and other staff ushered several screaming, frightened customers, into the back of the shop for safety.
Police arrived, but the men had already gone.
Ethraim said the men returned later armed with baseball bats and attacked Alon.
The joint statement from Jewish community leaders said the attack should be condemned by all Australians.
“We are outraged at this violent anti-semitic attack which was perpetrated in the heart of the Jewish community,” the statement said.
“Members of the Jewish community should not be subjected to these sorts of attacks under any circumstances.”
Ethraim said he believed the men were simply looking to fight and he insisted the attack was unprovoked.
“These guys were really bogans. They had very distinguishable blond mullets,” he said.
TWO men with baseball bats beat a teenage Orthodox Jew outside a Melbourne restaurant in a racist attack overnight, Jewish leaders said today.
The boy, Alon Tam, said the two men yelled “f---ing Jew, you deserve to die,” as they bashed him with the bats near Mister Glicks restaurant in suburban Balaclava.
In a joint statement, the Jewish Community Council of Victoria (JCCV) and the B'nai B'rith Anti-Defamation Commission (ADC) labelled the attack an outrage.
Police confirmed they were investigating the incident, but were unable to provide any details.
Alon said a friend nearby had warned him to run from the men, but he failed to get away in time.
“I couldn't even think what was going on I was just shocked and nervous,” he said.
“You always think that you're in Australia, a multicultural society, in the 21st century, but some people still act like barbarians.”
He is suffering soreness and some bruising to his upper body, he said.
Alon's friend Ethraim Manshari, 17, said the trouble began about 45 minutes before the attack.
Ethraim first saw the attackers chasing another man along the street and yelling “f---ing Arabs”.
Ethraim said he was working last night at Mister Glicks restaurant on Carlisle Street and was outside talking to friends around midnight when he was approached by the men.
“I said, `guys, don't even look at them, I don't want anything to happen,”' he said.
He said the two men approached and asked him if he wanted a fight, to which he replied, “nah, mate, I'm going to go inside”.
The men allegedly punched a customer in the face and started smashing the restaurant windows.
Ethraim said he and other staff ushered several screaming, frightened customers, into the back of the shop for safety.
Police arrived, but the men had already gone.
Ethraim said the men returned later armed with baseball bats and attacked Alon.
The joint statement from Jewish community leaders said the attack should be condemned by all Australians.
“We are outraged at this violent anti-semitic attack which was perpetrated in the heart of the Jewish community,” the statement said.
“Members of the Jewish community should not be subjected to these sorts of attacks under any circumstances.”
Ethraim said he believed the men were simply looking to fight and he insisted the attack was unprovoked.
“These guys were really bogans. They had very distinguishable blond mullets,” he said.