<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Police are investigating a suspected antisemitic attack after a teenager was verbally abused and assaulted at a scout camp south-east of </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/melbourne" rel="" target="_blank" title="Melbourne."><span>Melbourne.</span></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Joshua Levy, 18, was walking in Lardner Park, at West Gippsland, about 2pm on Saturday when he was approached by an unknown man and abused for wearing a yarmulke (also known as a kippah) and carrying the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/israel" rel="" target="_blank" title="Israeli"><span>Israeli</span></a><span> flag, police said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He was then approached by the same man in a crowd of around 300 people and was assaulted about 9pm.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/i-felt-defamed-the-perth-mum-and-business-owner-cancelled-by-metas-ai/2d86f7fd-dc91-4c13-a8a4-411ac938cfac" target="_blank"><strong><span>'I felt defamed': Perth mum and business owner cancelled by Meta's AI</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/maralago-shooting-us-secret-service-shoots-man-at-donald-trumps-florida-residence/46f8705e-f4dd-4894-979f-de682908e330" target="_blank"><strong><span>Gunman shot dead at Mar-a-Lago identified as missing 21-year-old</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He suffered minor injuries and reported the incident alongside his father to police the next day.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Levy told 9News he was taken aback by the unexpected assault.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/lardner-victoria-teenager-assaulted-antisemitic-incident/c7757698-2e51-4fdd-b47e-d85abb099af2" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"He just tapped me on the shoulder, I turned around thinking it was one of my friends, and I instantly felt hazy," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He was left with bruising around his nose and swelling in his cheek after being hit three times.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Hurting people based on their opinions is not OK," he added.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Police believe it was a targeted attack.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Victoria Police understand incidents of antisemitism can leave communities feeling targeted, threatened, and vulnerable," police said in a statement.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"There is absolutely no place in our society for antisemitic, racist or hate-based behaviour and such activity will not be tolerated."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>OLYMPICS:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.nine.com.au/sport/olympics/milano-cortina-2026-closing-ceremony-opera-ballet-dancing-video-beauty-in-action-20260223-p5o4it.html" target="_blank"><strong><span>Italy passes baton to France after 'magical' Games</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Anti-Defamation Commission condemned the incident in a statement and said the young man was struck three times in the face while walking with an Israeli flag draped around his shoulders.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Commission Chair Dr Dvir Abramovich said the teenager was attacked for being "visibly Jewish".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We are watching something dark and rotten in this country become worse every day," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"An 18-year-old man was verbally intimidated, stalked and beaten because he was visibly Jewish.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This could have ended in brain trauma, in a hospital corridor, in a family standing over a coffin."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Abramovich urged police to pursue an investigation.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Police said an investigation into the incident remains ongoing.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>No arrests have been made.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Anybody with information or relevant footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers </span><a href="https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au/" target="_blank" title="online"><span>online</span></a><span> or on 1800 333 000.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div 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