A Melbourne Cafe Was Vandalised And The Owner’s Life Was Threatened For Following COVID Rules
"I am just trying to keep myself and the community safe."
A cafe owner in Melbourne has been left scared to go to work after a vicious attack vandalised his business and threatened his life over vaccine requirements.
The Briki Cafe in Thornbury in the city’s inner-north was targeted on Monday, with thousands of dollars worth of damage being caused by a brick being thrown through the shop window. “My main window where I serve the coffee from was … in a million pieces,” cafe owner Symeon Kandias told the ABC. “[I] had a closer look, there was a massive brown brick inside.”
In addition to the damage, the vandals also left a note threatening to burn down the business and threatening the owner’s life.
He added that he was simply following the state’s COVID guidelines, which includes asking patrons for proof of vaccination prior to entry.
“I am just trying to keep myself and the community safe,” he said. “If we, the little guys, don’t follow these rules, we won’t survive.”
Victorian Transport and Infrastructure Minister Jacinta Allan slammed the behaviour when asked her thoughts on the terrifying incident.
“Resorting to violence and threats of violence, simply because you are doing the right thing to protect yourself, your family, your customers, the Victorian community, that is simply unacceptable behaviour,” she said. “We’ve seen far too many unacceptable examples of people threatening violence simply because people are making the choice to do the right thing.”
Victoria Police has confirmed it is investigating the incident, but in the meantime, Kandias has been left worried to return to his store out of fear the attackers will return.
Junkee has reached out to Victoria Police for comment.