Violent gang attacks men outside Donovans restaurant in St Kilda

“These attacks are quite cowardly and vicious, unprovoked,” said Detective Sergeant David Schaefer.

“[This is] really an ugly event that occurred in a normally peaceful location, where people go to enjoy themselves.”

Police are investigating whether a metal or wooden pole was used in the attacks.

It comes as Opposition Leader Matthew Guy renewed his push to talk tough on crime ahead of this month’s state election, announcing GPS tracking bracelets for home invaders and carjackers on parole.

Witness John was driving through the area on Thursday night when he had to swerve to avoid hitting people who were on the road.

“I saw a chef walking backwards towards the restaurants, he was walking back towards [Donovans],” he said.

“Before I got there he must have run out and chased them across the road to the car park, then he must have been chased back into the restaurant. He was swinging a shovel, swinging and swinging it.

“They were surrounding him … wanting to punch and kick him.”

He said the youths were aged in their late teens. At one point, one of the teenagers threw a traffic cone at the chef.

“He threw it when I was pbading the scene and it bounced and hit my car.”

Police released CCTV footage of a group of youths – some with their T-shirts over their heads –walking through St Kilda on Thursday night.

Another witness, Christopher, told 3AW radio’s Neil Mitchell program that at least one of the victims worked at the restaurant.

“A good friend of mine works down there and was telling me essentially it started with a staff member having a cigarette and a man approached him asking for cigarette.

He refused … at that point [the man] got agitated and angry, stole his lighter and started punching and kicking him.

“He ripped out piercings and a few other things.”

The caller said another staff member from the restaurant came out to help and tried to defend his colleague.

“As the fight escalated more staff members started coming out of the kitchen to try and defend their mates,” he said.

Kevin Donovan, who runs the establishment with wife Gail, declined to comment to the media at the restaurant on Friday.

Mr Donovan has previously spoken at council meetings of the need for more CCTV cameras along the foreshore.

There were several violent badaults in St Kilda last summer. In December, a large group of youths were alleged to have bashed and robbed beachgoers in a wild brawl on the St Kilda foreshore in the early hours of the morning.

Port Phillip council mayor Bernadene Voss said 10 CCTV cameras would be installed at five locations along the foreshore by December. The cameras will be monitored by police.

Yet police are calling for a full alcohol ban along St Kilda foreshore to be re-introduced by the council.

“The bans are important because you’ve got a public open space, you’ve got young people congregating and international backpackers,” Inspector Tim Kelly said.

“Put alcohol in there, it’s a recipe for disaster.”

Opposition police spokesman Ed O’Donohue said Premier Daniel Andrews had “promised to smash the gangs, but he has last control of community safety and has failed”.

“Yet again our reputation as a safe city is being trashed as a result of the weak Andrews government that has no idea about how to regain control of community safety,” Mr O’Donohue said.

Police Minister Lisa Neville said the government was employing more than 3000 extra police officers, adding that the behaviour displayed at St Kilda was completely unacceptable.

“The police investigation is under way and the offenders will be identified by police, arrested, and held accountable for their actions,” Ms Neville said.

“We are delivering our record investment of 3135 extra police officers across Victoria, and giving police the powers, resources and tools they need to enforce the law and arrest offenders as well as prevent crime and keep the community safe.”

Anyone with information about Thurday’s events is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.

With Tammy Mills