Police handed out multiple fines to people suspected of gathering illegally to pray on Rosh Hashanah in Melbourne, Australia, despite a coronavirus lockdown on the city, Australia's 9 News reported Tuesday.
The fines issued were worth A$5,452 ($4,016) each and were issued by officers who waited for people at the exits of Ripponlea Synagogue, according to 9 News.
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
"Victoria Police has spoken to a number of people who attended an address on Glen Eira Road, Elsternwick on Tuesday 7 September. All adults who attended will be issued with a [A]$5452 fine," police said in a statement, according to 9 News.
Police added that they believe a number of people present have yet to speak to the police and the officers are looking for them.
Still no movement on worshipers inside the Ripponlea Synagogue where up to 100 are believed to be marking Jewish New Year in what appears to be a breach of COVID-19 restrictions, but there are dozens of people now singing in the alley near it @theage pic.twitter.com/yvxVmtx0AD
— Cassie Morgan (@cassieemorgan) September 7, 2021
Members of the Ripponlea Synagogue entered the building at around 5 a.m. and did not leave until after 8 p.m., according to Melbourne's daily The Age. The crowd was aggressive to journalists at the scene when exiting the building, the newspaper wrote, adding that the media were forced to move as the crowd left the scene.
A source told The Age that it was possible that up to 100 people attended the gathering.