POLICE are searching for three men believed to be involved in the Oakleigh riot in which a crazed mob trashed a Bob Jane T-Mart store and bashed a Fairfax photographer.

Images of the three men were released - one wearing a white hoodie, smirking, another grinning with his hands in the air, while the other stared at the camera.

Police were tight-lipped about their investigation, only saying the trio were suspected of being players in the March riot - which began in protest of the cancellation of an Easternats drag race meeting at Calder Park - and they would like to speak to them.

Police have made 17 arrests over the riot. Fifteen people have been charged and a 16th person has been released pending summons. A 17th was released without charge, a police spokeswoman said.

The mob gathered on the evening of March 19 to protest the cancellation of the Easternats event, sponsored by Bob Jane.

It soon got out of control, with several thugs smashing the shop's windows while the crowd cheered them on.

When the window started shattering, the crowd began retreating. It was then that FCN photographer Wayne Hawkins, who was covering the riot, felt a stinging blow to the side of head.

As he lay on the ground getting kicked and punched, he thought he was going to die.

"If it wasn't for the sirens and the police, they would have finished me off," Hawkins said.

He said police were present for most of the incident and included two units from the dogs squad, but they stayed in their cars, obviously outnumbered.

Anyone with information can phone Crime Stoppers on 1800333000.

Jared Lynch/The Age