Melbourne Synagogue Fire: Man Charged as Antisemitism Concerns Escalate
A 34-year-old man from Sydney has been charged after a Melbourne synagogue was deliberately set ablaze Friday night, sparking widespread condemnation and renewed calls for heightened security measures for Jewish communities across Australia. The incident, currently under investigation by Victoria’s Joint Counter Terrorism Security Investigation Unit, occurred at the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation on Albert Street.
The alleged arson took place while approximately 20 people were inside the synagogue participating in Shabbat services. Fortunately, all individuals were able to evacuate safely through a rear exit, escaping injury. According to authorities, the suspect was observed walking through Parliament Gardens before allegedly pouring a flammable liquid onto the synagogue’s front door and igniting it.
The accused, now in custody, faces charges including reckless conduct endangering life, reckless conduct endangering serious injury, criminal damage by fire, and possessing a controlled weapon. He is scheduled to appear in court today. CCTV footage captured the incident, providing crucial evidence for investigators.
Victoria Police stated that detectives are actively examining the alleged intent and ideology of the accused to determine if the act was motivated by terrorism. This investigation unfolds against a backdrop of escalating tensions and a series of related incidents across Melbourne on Friday night.
Approximately 20 protesters reportedly gathered at the Miznon restaurant, a Jewish-owned establishment on Hardware Lane, and engaged in offensive chanting. Simultaneously, three vehicles were set alight at a business in Greensborough, a suburb in Melbourne’s northeast. Authorities have not yet established a direct link between these incidents and the synagogue fire.
The incidents have drawn strong reactions from international leaders. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a statement Saturday night, describing the events as “reprehensible” and demanding action from the Australian government. “Antisemitism must be uprooted,” he asserted, adding that Israel would “continue to stand alongside the Australian Jewish community.” Israeli President Isaac Herzog echoed these sentiments, stating on social media platform X that Australian authorities “must take all steps necessary to protect their Jewish citizens.”
Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Bourke is expected to meet with representatives of Melbourne’s Jewish community on Sunday to address their concerns.
This latest attack has reignited anxieties within the Jewish community, particularly in light of a similar incident in December, when the Adass Israel Synagogue in Ripponlea was destroyed by arson, an event police are also treating as a terrorist attack. “We’re tired, we’re angry and we’re just shocked that [another fire] has happened again,” said Naomi Levin, CEO of the Jewish Community Council of Victoria. “We’ve seen this happen in Victoria before. We’ve seen it happen around Australia. We just want to be left to practise our faith and to be part of our community. We just want to be left alone.”
Victorian Shadow Police Minister David Southwick expressed outrage, questioning the government’s response. “We were all down at Adass when it was firebombed and we had the prime minister, the premier, everyone rolling out and saying ‘this is terrible, it should never happen again’,” he stated at the East Melbourne synagogue on Saturday. “What’s the government been doing since then?”
Following the Adass attack, the Victorian government announced plans to strengthen laws regarding protests and enhance social cohesion. Proposed measures include bans on face masks, the seizure of attachment devices, and restrictions on demonstrations near places of worship, as well as prohibiting the display of flags associated with banned terrorist organizations. However, the legislation has yet to be presented to parliament.
“What is the government waiting for?” Mr. Southwick demanded. He urged an immediate recall of parliament to address the issue, advocating for even more extensive police powers to manage protests and arrest non-compliant individuals. “Victorians deserve to feel safe. That’s got to be the first job of any government,” he added.
Police Minister Anthony Carbines defended the government’s approach, stating that they are prioritizing thoroughness and consultation with community organizations to ensure the new laws are effective. “Parliament resumes in July-August … it’ll go to the cabinet and then it’ll go to the parliament and as soon as the parliament passes those laws, they’ll be in effect and I expect that to happen in the coming months,” he said. He highlighted that Operation Park, launched in late 2023 in response to rising hate crimes linked to the Middle East conflict, has already resulted in 138 arrests.
Federal Shadow Attorney-General Julian Lesser criticized the lack of response from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to a letter requesting information on measures taken to improve the safety of Jewish Australians. He noted that countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and France have already implemented increased security protocols.
Prime Minister Albanese condemned the weekend’s incidents, calling the attacks “completely unacceptable.” He acknowledged the potential for “catastrophic consequences” had the attack on the restaurant been more severe.
Daniel Aghion, President of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, emphasized the need for a broader societal response to antisemitism. “We don’t see Russian or Ukrainian or Sudanese restaurants being attacked, or other places of conflict around the world,” Mr. Aghion told ABC Weekend Breakfast. “It’s always just a restaurant that serves Israeli food, owned and staffed by Australians mind you.” He expressed concern that the appointment of a special envoy against antisemitism, while a positive step, had taken nearly six months to implement and had not yet yielded tangible results.
The incidents underscore a growing sense of vulnerability within the Australian Jewish community and a pressing need for comprehensive strategies to combat antisemitism and ensure the safety and security of all citizens. .
