Police speak after ‘abhorrent’ arson attack on Melbourne synagogue

A man has been charged after a Melbourne synagogue was set alight with more than a dozen people inside, prompting a furious response from Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The 34-year-old man entered the grounds of the synagogue on Albert Street at 8pm on Friday, police said.

He then allegedly poured flammable liquid on the front door of the religious building and set it alight before fleeing, in an alleged antisemitic attack which Home Affairs minister Tony Burke described as an "attack on Australia".

An unknown man entered the grounds of the synagogue on Albert St. He poured flammable liquid on the front door of the religious building and set it alight before fleeing, Victoria Police said.

There were 20 people, including children, taking part in Shabbat, however everyone was able to evacuate safely.

Fire crews were able to extinguish the blaze, which was contained to the front entrance.

A 34-year-old man from Toongabbie, NSW, was arrested in the Melbourne CBD about 8.15pm yesterday.

He has been charged with reckless conduct endangering life and serious injury, criminal damage by fire, and possession of a controlled weapon.

He will appear before the Bail and Remand Court today.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke condemned the attack as an

Burke told media that while nobody was physically injured in the blaze, he warned it was an attack on both the Jewish community and the wider community.

"The community here was harmed. The Jewish community in Australia was harmed, and we were harmed as a nation," Burke said.

"There were three attacks that night, and none of them belonged in Australia. Arson attacks, the chanting calls for death, other attacks and graffiti.

"None of it belonged in Australia and they were attacks on Australia. So we've come together today to stand in solidarity with the community here."

https://x.com/IsraeliPM/status/1941566195301482941

The attack also prompted a message from Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who demanded action from the Australian government in a post on X.

"I view with utmost gravity the antisemitic attacks that occurred last night in Melbourne, which included attempted arson of a synagogue in the city and a violent assault against an Israeli restaurant by pro-Palestinian rioters," Netanyahu said.

"The reprehensible antisemitic attacks, with calls of 'Death to the IDF' and an attempt to attack a place of worship, are severe hate crimes that must be uprooted.

"The State of Israel will continue to stand alongside the Australian Jewish community, and we demand that the Australian government take all action to deal with the rioters to the fullest extent of the law and prevent similar attacks in the future."

Detectives will continue to probe the intent and ideology of the man charged to determine if the incident was an act of terrorism.

Police said detectives are yet to establish any links to two additional incidents on Friday night; a public order incident in Melbourne's Hardware Lane and an arson attack and criminal damage to a business on Para Road, Greensborough, but will continue to make enquiries.

Police investigate two separate incidents

In a separate incident, a group of 20 protestors stormed and trashed an Israeli restaurant on Hardware Street in Melbourne's CBD.

Witnesses say the group was chanting "death to the IDF" before they arrived at the restaurant called Miznon.

Diners were fearful as the group threw food and chairs at windows and knocked over tables.

In a separate incident, a group of 20 protestors stormed and trashed an Israeli restaurant.

One 28-year-old was arrested at the time and has been released, and a further investigation will follow to identify the alleged offenders.

Dunstan said the small group had peeled away from a larger protest in the CBD.

Victoria Police also revealed a third incident took place this morning, but they have not linked the three separate attacks - it is not clear whether the third attack was an antisemitic motivated attack.

In the third incident, a group of men entered the premises of a business on Para Road in Greensborough at 4.30am.

Three cars were torched and spray paint was used to vandalise vehicles and a wall of the business, which is known to manufacture parts for military planes.

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