An illegal gathering to celebrate Jewish New Year has been branded 'appalling' by police chiefs after a news crews was attacked and lockdown laws ignored.
Up to 30 people are now believed to have attended the Rosh Hashanah celebration at a Ripponlea synagogue in Melbourne's south-east.
Police and media were involved in a stand-off with celebrants and supporters on Tuesday night as they gathered for the first night of the two day religious event.
Wild scenes outside the orthodox Adass Israel Synagogue in Glen Eira Avenue, Ripponlea saw some confront police and climb onto the roof of a nearby building.
Police speak to worshippers (pictured) at a Jewish New Year's celebration at the Adass Israel Synagogue in Ripponlea, Melbourne, on Tuesday
One news cameraman was allegedly assaulted and taken to hospital with concussion and six people have been been fined $5,452 for breaching public health orders.
But Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Russell Barrett has told other worshippers to come forward and turn themselves in.
'I'm appalled,' he said on Wednesday morning. 'Come forward, identify yourself.'
Supporters stood outside the Adass Israel Synagogue of Melbourne on Tuesday night as the Rosh Hashanah celebrations continued inside.
There was initially believed to be 100 people inside, but police downscaled the estimated number to around 30 on Wednesday.
The gathering was condemned by the Jewish Community Council of Victoria on Wednesday.
'The actions of a few do not represent the vast majority of our community who have celebrated Rosh Hashanah at home only with the people with whom they live, and just like the wider community, continue to follow the rules,'
The tense standoff between Victorian police and worshippers (pictured) spilled into abuse and claims of anti-Semitism as police moved in to disperse the gathering. Police later issued a statement saying 'all adults' in attendance would receive a $5,452 fine
A 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 (men near the synagogue in Ripponlea, pictured)
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.
Victorian police faced an increasingly defiant group of worshippers on Tuesday afternoon and evening before dispersing two gatherings on Glen Eira Avenue, Ripponlea. Worshippers are pictured in a lane behind the synagogue
A group of mask-wearing men pass police near one of the gatherings on Tuesday night (pictured)
The main illegal gathering occurred at Adass Israel Synagogue in Glen Eira Avenue, Ripponlea in inner Melbourne during a Jewish New Year celebration
Police moved in to end the standoff after 8pm on Tuesday.
Eyewitnesses said supporters chanted, pushed cameras and yelled insults at media who assembled as news of the 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.
At present they are mostly observed privately.
Police come face to face with worshippers from Jewish New Year celebrations at the orthodox Adass Israel Synagogue in Glen Eira Avenue, Ripponlea on Tuesday night
Police shut down the illegal gathering on Tuesday night after waiting for the attendees to disperse during the day
Victorian police speak with worshippers outside an illegal gathering to celebrate Jewish New Year at Ripponlea on Tuesday night
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.
'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,' passer-by Steve Davis told 9News.
Victoria Police broke up two Jewish New Year celebrations that took place on Tuesday in breach of Covid restrictions
