Melbourne café threatened after supporting police injured in anti-lockdown protests

A café in Melbourne's east has been the subject of violent threats after its owner ran a fundraiser to support police following officers being injured in anti-lockdown protests.

Ben Williamson, who owns Battle café on Diana Drive in Blackburn North, decided to run a fundraiser for Victoria Police's Blue Ribbon Foundation after 10 police officers were injured in anti-lockdown protests in Richmond on 18 September.

While his fundraiser received a lot of support, it also led to Mr Williamson and the café being targeted by online trolls.

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"We've received some threats, received screenshots of protest rally groups threatening to visit the café with bricks or a Molotov," Mr Williamson said.

"To even think that people could say these things about my business whether they were going to follow through or not, it was enough to frighten us a bit."

Police have been forced to patrol the café since the threats were made.

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The café owner said he sympathised with the protesters, but that violence was not a reflection of society.

Mr Williamson said the business had also received backlash in the form of online reviews, aimed to turn people away from the café.