Police Minister Lisa Neville said the offenders would be "identified by police, arrested, and held accountable for their actions". Youths captured on CCTV cameras in St Kilda on the night of the attack. Credit:Victoria Police Chef Daniel Maetzing said he feared he would be killed as the gang rained punches and kicks on him, before clubbing him with a pole and glassing him with a champagne bottle. "The first thing I got was a blow to the back of the head," he told Nine News. "All I saw was just a person jumping in full swing motion and then going straight at it. There was just constantly punching and kicking."

Chef Daniel Maetzing was grazed and bleeding after the attack. Credit:Channel Nine Another victim – a 23-year-old man who was taking a stroll along the foreshore on the hot and muggy night – was punched in the head and left with severe swelling to his face, police said. His phone was also stolen. "These attacks are quite cowardly and vicious, unprovoked," said Detective Sergeant David Schaefer. "[This is] really an ugly event that occurred in a normally peaceful location, where people go to enjoy themselves." Kitchen staff working at Donovans restaurant on Friday. Credit:Jason South

The attack followed a Halloween-night crime spree by a group of mostly African youths that spanned six suburbs from South Yarra to Patterson Lakes. Five men ambushed a young mother in her driveway, threatening her with a machete and covering her mouth before stealing her car in the early hours of the morning. The Age can reveal police are also probing a violent home invasion in Brunswick West where six men smashed their way into a house about 4.30am on Tuesday. The home invaders, armed with knives and hammers, confronted two victims and demanded money and jewellery before fleeing in the victims' black Jeep Cherokee. The vehicle was found in Deer Park the following day. Opposition police spokesman Ed O'Donohue said Premier Daniel Andrews had "promised to smash the gangs, but he has lost control of community safety and has failed".

"Yet again our reputation as a safe city is being trashed as a result of the weak Andrews government that has no idea about how to regain control of community safety," Mr O'Donohue said. Police Minister Ms Neville said the government was employing more than 3000 extra police officers, adding that the behaviour displayed in St Kilda was completely unacceptable. "We are delivering our record investment of 3135 extra police officers across Victoria, and giving police the powers, resources and tools they need," she said. Donovans restaurant. Credit:Jason South Witness John was driving through St Kilda on Thursday night when he had to swerve to avoid hitting people who were on the road.

"I saw a chef walking backwards towards the restaurants, he was walking back towards [Donovans]," he said. "Before I got there he must have run out and chased them across the road to the car park, then he must have been chased back into the restaurant. He was swinging a shovel, swinging and swinging it. "They were surrounding him ... wanting to punch and kick him." Police released CCTV footage showing the gang, some with their T-shirts over their heads. Kevin Donovan, who runs the establishment with wife Gail, declined to comment at the restaurant on Friday.

Loading Mr Donovan has previously spoken at council meetings of the need for more CCTV cameras along the foreshore. Police on Friday called for a full alcohol ban to be reintroduced along St Kilda foreshore. "The bans are important because you've got a public open space, you've got young people congregating and international backpackers," Inspector Jason Kelly said. "Put alcohol in there, it's a recipe for disaster."

There were several violent assaults in St Kilda last summer. In December, a large group of youths were alleged to have bashed and robbed beachgoers in a wild brawl on the St Kilda foreshore in the early hours of the morning. Port Phillip council mayor Bernadene Voss said 10 CCTV cameras would be installed at five locations along the foreshore by December. The cameras will be monitored by police. Anyone with information about Thurday's events is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.

With Tammy Mills and Melissa Cunningham