Six fined after ‘pretty appalling’ behaviour at a Melbourne synagogue

Ugly scenes erupted outside a Ripponlea synagogue last night, following a gathering to mark Jewish New Year in breach of public health orders.

After a stand-off between police and worshippers which lasted more than 12 hours, members of the ultra-Orthodox community spilled out onto the streets and minor scuffles ensued.

A member of the media has been hospitalised for a suspected concussion after receiving a blow to the head in a scuffle outside the Glen Eira Road building.

Dozens of ultra-Orthodox Jews entered the synagogue early yesterday for Rosh Hashanah and indicated they would not leave until nightfall.

Six attendees have already been issued with $5452 fines and police are working to identify others who were present.

Assistant Commissioner for the southern metro region, Russell Barrett, says police “could have entered” the synagogue but opted to wait outside because there were many children present.

When the doors finally opened last night, another group of ultra-Orthodox Jews arrived to distract police.

“Another group from the community come and distract us interacting with some media, causing us to then have to respond to that, which then sees a number of people in that venue, as I understand it now, to exit windows and flee over roofs of neighboring properties,” Assistant Commissioner Barrett told Neil Mitchell.

“It’s pretty appalling behaviour.”

Press PLAY below to hear Assistant Commissioner Barrett share how the stand-off unfolded

Police say they’ve spoken to “a number” of people who attended the Glen Eira Road building, but they believe others who were present have not yet been spoken to by police.

Press PLAY below to hear a reporter on the scene this morning

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Some of the Ripponlea worshippers finally emerged after 8pm – media forced around the other side of the building after things got hairy @theage pic.twitter.com/Ez9l5laGXo

— Cassie Morgan (@cassieemorgan) September 7, 2021

Image: Nine