Three arrested after alleged racially motivated assault on Victorian imam

Three people were arrested after a Muslim religious leader in Victoria was allegedly punched in the face and his wife forced from their car on the South Gippsland Highway in Melbourne’s south-east, police said. Police allege the couple were travelling at 7.40pm on Saturday when three occupants of a small black hatchback "racially abused" them, hurled objects and drove dangerously to intimidate the pair.

Officers say the occupants forced the couple into a service station, got out to assault the imam and threatened his wife; members of the public intervened before the alleged offenders returned to their vehicle and fled. The alleged victim, a 47-year-old Noble Park man, was recovering after being punched in the face.

The Australian National Imams Council condemned it as a "cowardly attack", saying: "The psychological trauma suffered by the victims is severe. No family in Australia should fear being attacked simply for their faith, appearance, or identity." Police said the three were arrested in Dandenong South on Sunday.

A 23-year-old Cranbourne North man and a 22-year-old Cranbourne East man have been charged with criminal damage and common law assault; the Cranbourne North man was remanded in custody to appear at Dandenong magistrates court on Monday and the Cranbourne East man was bailed to appear at the same court on 22 May.

Key Topics

World, Imam, South Gippsland Highway, Melbourne, Noble Park, Dandenong South