Burger chain operator hands himself into police after alleged anti-Semitic comments at rally

The founder of Victorian burger chain Burgertory has handed himself in to police but has not yet been charged over allegations he made anti-Semitic comments.

Hash Tayeh, a Palestinian activist, organised a rally at Fawkner police station in Melbourne’s north, for Friday morning before intending to report inside.

More than 50 people gathered for the rally, but he was then advised to present himself at Moonee Ponds station.

Uniformed police were joined by organisers from the group Jews Against Fascism who led chants.

Dozens of protesters then moved to the North Coburg Burgertory store, where Mr Tayeh spoke to the crowd.

“We will fight until chain is broken, until every wall is torn down, until every Palestinian has freedom, we will not rest,” he told the rally.

“And we will not be intimidated. Our determination is unwavering and our fight for justice is relentless.”

Mr Tayeh told AAP he had not been charged and his matter has been referred to the Office of Public Prosecutions.

It comes a week after Victoria Police said it had received a complaint about Mr Tayeh’s alleged anti-Semitic comments.

Police at the time said he had been contacted, both directly and through his legal representative, to arrange a time to be interviewed.

The Caulfield Burgertory outlet was set on fire, allegedly by two men, on November 10.

Mr Tayeh has since claimed the attack was linked to his involvement in a pro-Palestine rally and labelled it a hate crime.

Police maintain that although the fire was deliberately lit there’s no evidence it was racially or politically motivated.

The fire allegedly caused $450,000 in damage and led to clashes between Israel and Palestine supporters next to a nearby synagogue.