Overview
- A 23-year-old accused, identified in court as Brendan Nicholls, was refused bail and remanded to February after a hearing in Dandenong Magistrates' Court.
- A second man, 22, was bailed to appear in May, while an 18-year-old woman was released pending summons, with both men charged with criminal damage and common law assault.
- Police allege Imam Ismet Purdic and his wife were forced off the South Gippsland Highway, racially abused, threatened with stabbing, and that the imam was punched and their car damaged.
- Passers-by intervened before the alleged offenders fled, and Victoria Police reiterated there is no place for prejudice-motivated or hate-based behavior.
- Imam Purdic sought medical treatment and thanked police and officials, as community groups and ministers condemned the attack and ANIC reported a sharp rise in anti-Muslim incidents.