Man accused of Miznon restaurant attack denied bail
The man accused of violently storming Israeli restaurant Miznon in Melbourne’s CBD has been denied bail after the court heard he was already on bail for threatening to kill someone at an earlier protest.
50-year-old Arnold Antwany, was charged on Tuesday alongside a 48-year-old Footscray woman and a 28-year-old Essendon woman over Friday night’s attack on Miznon, during which chairs were thrown and pro-Palestine slogans were chanted. All three face charges of assault, affray, riotous behaviour and criminal damage.
Police allege Antwany was among a group of around 20 protesters who stormed the Hardware Lane venue around 8.15pm. “It’s alleged a group of about 20 protesters walked to a restaurant on Hardware Lane at about 8.15pm where members of the public were enjoying their evening,” Victoria Police said. “Several people in the group were involved in an affray where chairs were thrown. Damage was caused to the glass door of the restaurant during the incident.”
Prosecutors told the Melbourne Magistrates Court that Antwany had “a verbal confrontation with a patron and threw a chair in their direction” before knocking over a table and throwing more furniture. His bail was denied after the court was told he breached earlier conditions prohibiting him from entering the CBD. He had been on bail since April over allegations he threatened to kill a member of the public during a previous protest.
The magistrate said, “such behaviour simply adds fuel to the fire for further behaviour of racial and abusive behaviour in the community,” and added, “Let’s not forget he was not to attend the CBD from the 14th of April and the allegations are that … he has come into the city and deliberately and intentionally engage in protest of a racial nature as well.”
Antwany is due to reappear in court on 18 July. The two women charged were granted bail and are scheduled to appear in court in September.
In the wake of the attack, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne confirmed that it had stood down a staff member, Jemima Demanuele, pending investigation into alleged involvement. “St Vincent’s is aware of social media content connecting a staff member with a protest that took place at a Melbourne CBD restaurant on Friday night,” a spokesperson said.
Miznon’s owners said via Instagram that the incident “caused much distress to our customers and to neighbouring restaurant patrons and staff”, and called for respect and understanding: “We respect everyone’s right to their own nationality and religion. We ask for the same.”
Jewish community leaders including Daniel Aghion KC welcomed the police’s response. “It is unacceptable that Australians cannot even go out to have a peaceful dinner on a Friday night in Melbourne,” he said.
The charges came on the same day Jewish community leaders joined Premier Jacinta Allan and senior government officials for the first meeting of Victoria’s newly established anti-hate taskforce, following a spate of anti-Semitic attacks across Melbourne.
Jonathan Jackson, 9th July 2025
