Australia police charge man over alleged arson on Melbourne synagogue
There were no injuries to the 20 people inside the East Melbourne Synagogue, who fled from the fire on Friday night. Firefighters extinguished the blaze in the capital of Victoria state.
Australia has experienced several antisemitic incidents since the start of the Israel-Gaza war in October 2023.
Counterterrorism detectives late on Saturday arrested the 34-year-old resident of Sydney, capital of neighbouring New South Wales, charging him with offences including criminal damage by fire, police said.
"The man allegedly poured a flammable liquid on the front door of the building and set it on fire before fleeing the scene," police said in a statement.
The suspect, whom the authorities declined to identify, was remanded in custody after his case was heard at Melbourne Magistrates Court on Sunday and no application was made for bail, the Australian Broadcasting Corp reported.
Authorities are investigating whether the synagogue fire was linked to a disturbance on Friday night at an Israeli restaurant in Melbourne, in which one person was arrested for hindering police.
The restaurant was extensively damaged, according to the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, an umbrella group for Australia's Jews.
It said the fire at the synagogue, one of Melbourne's oldest, was set as those inside sat down to Sabbath dinner.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog went on X to "condemn outright the vile arson attack targeting Jews in Melbourne's historic and oldest synagogue on the Sabbath, and on an Israeli restaurant where people had come to enjoy a meal together".
"This is not the first such attack in Australia in recent months. But it must be the last," Herzog said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the incidents as "severe hate crimes" that he viewed "with utmost gravity". "The State of Israel will continue to stand alongside the Australian Jewish community," Netanyahu said on X.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese late on Saturday described the alleged arson, which comes seven months after another synagogue in Melbourne was targeted by arsonists, as shocking and said those responsible should face the law's full force.
"My Government will provide all necessary support toward this effort," Albanese posted on X.
Homes, schools, synagogues and vehicles in Australia have been targeted by antisemitic vandalism and arson. The incidents included a fake plan by organised crime to attack a Sydney synagogue using a caravan of explosives in order to divert police resources, police said in March.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
21 minutes ago
- The Sun
Teacher who lost her arm in lion attack is revealed as sister of zoo's owners as chilling vid shows keeper kissing beast
A TEACHER who lost her arm in a lion attack has been revealed as the sister of one of the zoo's owners. The shocking incident unfolded at Darling Downs Zoo in Queensland, Australia on Sunday. 3 3 3 She was flown to Brisbane's Princess Alexandra Hospital and is believed to be in stable condition. The victim has since been identified as Joanne Cabban, a schoolteacher from New South Wales. She is the sister of Stephanie Robinson, who owns the zoo along with her husband Steve, has reported. It comes as a chilling clip has resurfaced online showing a staff member cuddling and kissing a lion at the zoo. In the brief clip, a woman can be seen cosying up to the big cat from the other side of its cage. But the lion bears its teeth, seemingly unenthusiastic at the encounter. A zoo statement published on social media following this weekend's attack says: "Inexplicably, at this stage, one animal grabbed her by one arm and caused severe damage to it. "At no stage did this animal leave its enclosure and there was no risk at all to staff members or members of the public. "Police and Workplace Health and Safety personnel are investigating this incident and have been onsite all morning. "The zoo is working with them to establish how this incident occurred but the full details will not be known until [the woman] can be interviewed." Owner Steve Robinson has since told reporters that the incident was not the "lion's fault". He added that he believes it was not "an attack" and that the lion was just playing, according to "We've raised these lions ourselves,' he said. "Their temperaments are excellent. We can still interact with them through the mesh of the cage." He added that "nothing like this has ever happened before" in the zoo's 20 year history. "We've got theories but until we get fact, I'm not going to be speculating or running with any what ifs or maybes or anything like that," he said. "We're still processing in our minds and coming to grips with not just what happened but what happens next."
The Independent
40 minutes ago
- The Independent
Tense scene as NYPD officer grabs woman attempting bridge jump
A New York Police Department (NYPD) officer rescued a woman attempting to jump from the RFK Bridge. Footage released by the police force on Tuesday, 8 July 2025, shows the officer intervening. The officer ran towards the woman, who was scaling the railing, shouting commands. He successfully pulled her off the fence, preventing her from jumping. Watch the video in full above.
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Three men working for Wagner terrorist group convicted of arson attack on London warehouse linked to Ukraine
THREE MEN working for the Wagner Russian terrorist group were yesterday convicted of an arson attack on a warehouse linked to Ukraine. The trio caused £1 million worth of damage to an industrial unit in Leyton, East London, destroying £100,000 worth of satellite communication equipment destined for Ukraine on March 20 last year. An Old Bailey jury yesterday convicted gang members Nii Mensah, 23, Jakeem Rose, 23, and Ugnius Asmena, 20, of aggravated arson with intent to endanger life. Mensah, of Thornton Heath, South London, livestreamed the warehouse blaze to Earl after he and Rose, from Croydon, set fire to the building as Asmena waited in a car. The case is the first to result in convictions of British criminals acting as proxies for the proscribed Wagner Group. Drug dealer Dylan Earl, 20, and Gatwick Airport cleaner Jake Reeves, 23, orchestrated the plot on behalf of the Russian Wagner group of mercenaries. They planned further arson attacks on a restaurant and wine shop in Mayfair and the kidnap of the owner, wealthy Russian dissident Evgeny Chichvarkin. They are the first defendants to be convicted of offences under the National Security Act 2023, designed to thwart attacks in the UK by hostile foreign states. Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb adjourned sentencing until a date to be fixed in the autumn. Moment flames engulf car outside Keir Starmer's home as man arrested over 'arson' attack on TWO properties linked to PM 1
