A NSW man has been charged over an alleged arson attack on an East Melbourne synagogue
Detectives from Victoria Police's Counter Terrorism Security Investigation Unit arrested the 34-year-old NSW man on Saturday evening.
"It is alleged the man was seen walking through Parliament Gardens before entering the grounds of the synagogue on Albert Street on 4 July about 8pm," Victoria Police said in a statement.
The man allegedly poured a flammable liquid on the front door of the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation building and set it on fire before fleeing the scene on foot in a westerly direction along Albert Street.
About 20 people were inside the synagogue enjoying Shabbat dinner at the time of the attack, but they were safely evacuated out the back of the building.
Firefighters extinguished the fire, which was contained to the front entrance.
The 34-year-old man from Toongabbie, NSW, was arrested in Melbourne's CBD at about 8.15pm on Saturday night.
He was interviewed by detectives and charged with reckless conduct endanger life, reckless conduct endanger serious injury, criminal damage by fire, and possess a controlled weapon.
The man will appear before the Bail and Remand Court today.
Victoria Police have not declared the attack a terrorist incident, but detectives are continuing to examine the intent and ideology of the person charged.
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 to determine any potential links.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has described the incident as a "shocking" act that has "no place in Australia".
'Those responsible for these shocking acts must face the full force of the law and my government will provide all necessary support toward this effort," the prime minister said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
5 hours ago
- News.com.au
Opposition calls on Labor to work together on childcare laws
Sussan Ley is calling on Anthony Albanese to work together on bolstering children's safety laws after horrific allegations of sex abuse at a childcare centre. Last week, detectives arrested and charged Joshua Dale Brown, 26, with more than 70 offences, including child rape and possession of child abuse material. He was a worker at a Melbourne childcare centre and had a working with children check. The Opposition Leader said on Monday it was 'an incredible betrayal'. 'I just felt physically sick when I heard this,' Ms Ley told Seven's Sunrise. 'So I have written to the Prime Minister in good faith to offer our constructive engagement in the lead-up to parliament returning so that we can have legislation ready to go to actually act once and for all, to do what I think every parent would expect, and every community member would expect, to make sure our children are safe in childcare settings.' A royal commission into child sexual abuse was completed in late 2017. Ms Ley was the assistant education minister responsible for childcare when the inquiry started in 2013. She also held ministerial positions in the Coalition governments during the royal commission and after it. Asked if last week's allegations were a 'failure of the Coalition', Ms Ley insisted that her side got the ball rolling and Labor kept up momentum. 'Now, we certainly need that work to be accelerated,' she said. Pressed on what the Coalition did when it received the royal commission's final report, she said the states and territories held most of the responsibility. Though, she was quick to deny that she was blaming state and territory governments. 'I'm not stepping back from saying that things need to be done, but I am recognising that state governments do own a lot of this,' Ms Ley said. 'For example, the Victorian state government has, if I can describe them, weaker working with children checks than any other state. 'And we all need the states to step up and own this because if they just say, as they often do in these instances, we want our system to prevail, then they're not acting either.' She added that federal intervention 'won't necessarily cover every single working with children check' because they were a state-level responsibility, but it would 'cover other measures that can take place in childcare centres that the Commonwealth may be able to hold some levers of control'. Education Minister Jason Clare last week vowed to introduce legislation that would let Canberra cut federal funds to childcare centres that 'aren't up to scratch' on children's safety. He said funding was one big lever the federal government could pull. In a separate case, the Herald Sun revealed over the weekend that a man convicted of accessing nearly 1000 images of child abuse material visited childcare centres while awaiting prosecution for some three years.
Perth Now
6 hours ago
- Perth Now
Shock footage shows anti-Semitic arson
An anti-hate taskforce will assemble in Melbourne this week in the wake of the latest violent anti-Semitic incidents, with shock footage showing a series of arson attacks. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has pulled together the taskforce after a synagogue was firebombed, a Jewish-owned restaurant was stormed while people ate inside, and another business was vandalised; all across this past weekend. Ms Allan made a private visit to the targeted synagogue on Monday, and revealed the state government gave the shule $80,000 for increased security last year. The Premier has tapped the Police Minister, Lord Mayor and police executives for the 'anti-hate' taskforce, Ms Allan's office says. Invitations will go out to representatives of Melbourne's Jewish community. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan condemned the attacks. NewsWire / Nadir Kinani Credit: News Corp Australia The front door of the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation was set on fire on Friday night. NewsWire / Valeriu Campan Credit: News Corp Australia Speaking outside the synagogue on Monday, Ms Allan said Jewish Victorians were an important part of the community. 'I'll continue to stand with a strong, proud Jewish community here in Victoria every single day. 'They are a big, important part of our community. They demand our support at this most difficult time. 'They demand our action, which is why, alongside strengthening laws and the response of Victoria Police, we will continue to work to build a stronger place where everyone can be who they are and practise their faith safe and free from hate.' In a statement released soon after, Ms Allan detailed the taskforce's first steps. She will request details on how Victoria Police plans to 'operationalise the criminal components' of the new Anti-Vilification and Social Cohesion Act. Ms Allan has also requested an update from the Local Escalation and Help (LEAH) group, which was set up to support the Jewish community at a local level. The taskforce members will also learn how community consultation and development of legislation is progressing, in a push for increased police powers to stamp out extreme and violent protest. At the synagogue on Monday, Ms Allan said she pledged to the Rabbi that the government would fund mental health support for the people inside during the fire, particularly the children. Ms Allan also revealed the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation received $80,000 from the government for security upgrades in December. 'Free Palestine' was graffitied onto the wall of a restaurant in the Melbourne CBD. NewsWire / Nadir Kinani Credit: News Corp Australia Police spoke to the owners of the popular restaurant. NewsWire / Nadir Kinani Credit: News Corp Australia 'Places of worship like this synagogue are a part of our fabric as a society,' Ms Allan said. 'We will protect them with everything we've got.' Federal Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said she and shadow Attorney-General Julian Leeser would travel to the east Melbourne Synagogue on Tuesday. 'Julian Leeser and I will be traveling tomorrow to the east Melbourne synagogue with other Victorian colleagues to meet the Jewish community there and to hear directly from them about the awful, hideous events over the weekend, and to reassure them of our ongoing support, our care and our commitment,' she said. The first of this weekend's three incidents happened at the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation at 8pm on Friday as about 20 adults and children worshipped inside. Angelo Loras, 34, from NSW, allegedly poured accelerant on the front door and set fire to the synagogue. Nobody inside was physically injured. Mr Loras was arrested about 24 hours later and has been charged with recklessly endangering life. Police are still assessing whether the incident constituted an act of terrorism. In a separate incident in the CBD on Friday night, an Israeli-owned restaurant was targeted. As people ate, a group of people who had split off from an anti-police violence protest harassed and intimidated diners. This incident happened on busy Hardware Lane. Cars were set alight and vandalised at the business in Melbourne's northeast early on Saturday morning. Supplied Credit: Supplied One of the three cars targeted by arsonists was destroyed. Supplied Credit: Supplied A 28-year-old from Footscray was arrested for hindering police and released on summons. Police have now released footage of a third incident, this too believed to have anti-Israeli motivations. This act of vandalism happened at a business in the northeast suburb of Greensborough about 4am on Saturday. Police say five people entered the property on Para Rd and set fire to three cars. One of the cars was destroyed. 'The group also used red spray paint to write various slogans on the cars and on a building wall,' a police spokesperson said. Police released footage of the attack early on Monday. It shows masked people setting two cars on fire, while another person spray paints one of the cars. 'While investigators continue to liaise with Counter Terrorism Command to establish if there are any connections to the arson on the synagogue in East Melbourne and a public order incident on Hardware Lane, at this time no links have been identified,' a police spokesperson said. 'There is absolutely no place at all in our society for anti-Semitic behaviour.' Police say this group took off on e-bikes in a south-westerly direction along Plenty River. All were wearing black hoodies, with backpacks and gloves.
The Advertiser
6 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Fresh vow to stop anti-Semitism with new taskforce
A new anti-hate taskforce charged with tackling the "bigger picture" of anti-Semitism will meet within days, as a premier vows to stamp out hatred towards Jews. At least four violent incidents in Melbourne are being treated as anti-Semitic attacks, including the firebombing of a synagogue on Friday night. Angelo Loras, a 34-year-old man from Sydney's west, faced court on Sunday, accused of setting the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation's front doors alight while 20 people were inside. The congregation had been singing traditional songs as they sat down for dinner after a regular service, when all of a sudden, chaos broke out. "My 13-year-old son comes running in and says, 'something's not right, the doorbell has been ringing'," Rabbi Dovid Gutnick told ABC radio. That's when they saw smoke and flames coming from under the door. Israeli restaurant Miznon in the CBD was targeted by masked pro-Palestinian protesters shortly afterwards, with a window smashed, tables flipped and chairs thrown as the group chanted "death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)". Hours later, a group spray-painted cars with anti-Semitic "inferences" and set them alight outside a Greensborough business in the city's northeast. CCTV footage released by police shows figures in black hooded jumpers lighting the fires, with detectives looking for five people who were last seen fleeing on e-bikes. A fourth incident involved stencils used to spray paint offensive images on pillars and walls near a holocaust museum in Elsternwick. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan visited the synagogue on Monday, after revealing details of the anti-hate taskforce intended to "look at the bigger picture across our city and state". "Just as the fire came to the front door here of this shule, that it was stopped, so too must we put a stop to the hate, put a stop to anti-Semitism," she told reporters outside. The incidents have not been declared terrorist attacks, but Victoria Police is working with counter terrorism officers to see if there are any links between the events. A 28-year-old from Footscray was the only arrest made for allegedly hindering police at Miznon, but has since been released. Police are still working on identifying other protesters involved. A group called Whistleblowers, Activists and Communities Alliance took responsibility for the incident. "While politicians in so-called Australia clutch their pearls over one meal that was interrupted, we ask people to refocus their attention on Israel's genocidal reign of terror over the Palestinians," a statement on the group's Instagram read. Rabbi Gutnick said his community was reeling from the incident, and that people can carry empathy for one group without descending into hate. "There is a boundary, and people have gone beyond the pale in the things that they've said and now in the things that are being done," he said. "Words don't end at words. They lead to actions." Victoria Police, the state government and Lord Mayor of Melbourne Nicholas Reece will this week examine police powers to stamp out extreme and violent protests. "We back our police, we're giving them more powers," the premier said. Ms Allan promised bans on protests outside places of worship and demonstrators wearing face coverings after a blaze destroyed two buildings at the Adass Israel Synagogue in the city's south in December. However, the legislation is yet to be introduced to state parliament. The attacks drew an international response, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanding action against the "rioters". Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said those responsible for the "shocking acts" must face the full force of the law, as the US Embassy in Australia praised the "swift response". Victoria's opposition leader Brad Battin said the state needed to crack down on hate speech at protests by reinstating "move on" laws. Federal opposition frontbencher Melissa McIntosh has called for an urgent national cabinet meeting to deal with the issue. A new anti-hate taskforce charged with tackling the "bigger picture" of anti-Semitism will meet within days, as a premier vows to stamp out hatred towards Jews. At least four violent incidents in Melbourne are being treated as anti-Semitic attacks, including the firebombing of a synagogue on Friday night. Angelo Loras, a 34-year-old man from Sydney's west, faced court on Sunday, accused of setting the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation's front doors alight while 20 people were inside. The congregation had been singing traditional songs as they sat down for dinner after a regular service, when all of a sudden, chaos broke out. "My 13-year-old son comes running in and says, 'something's not right, the doorbell has been ringing'," Rabbi Dovid Gutnick told ABC radio. That's when they saw smoke and flames coming from under the door. Israeli restaurant Miznon in the CBD was targeted by masked pro-Palestinian protesters shortly afterwards, with a window smashed, tables flipped and chairs thrown as the group chanted "death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)". Hours later, a group spray-painted cars with anti-Semitic "inferences" and set them alight outside a Greensborough business in the city's northeast. CCTV footage released by police shows figures in black hooded jumpers lighting the fires, with detectives looking for five people who were last seen fleeing on e-bikes. A fourth incident involved stencils used to spray paint offensive images on pillars and walls near a holocaust museum in Elsternwick. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan visited the synagogue on Monday, after revealing details of the anti-hate taskforce intended to "look at the bigger picture across our city and state". "Just as the fire came to the front door here of this shule, that it was stopped, so too must we put a stop to the hate, put a stop to anti-Semitism," she told reporters outside. The incidents have not been declared terrorist attacks, but Victoria Police is working with counter terrorism officers to see if there are any links between the events. A 28-year-old from Footscray was the only arrest made for allegedly hindering police at Miznon, but has since been released. Police are still working on identifying other protesters involved. A group called Whistleblowers, Activists and Communities Alliance took responsibility for the incident. "While politicians in so-called Australia clutch their pearls over one meal that was interrupted, we ask people to refocus their attention on Israel's genocidal reign of terror over the Palestinians," a statement on the group's Instagram read. Rabbi Gutnick said his community was reeling from the incident, and that people can carry empathy for one group without descending into hate. "There is a boundary, and people have gone beyond the pale in the things that they've said and now in the things that are being done," he said. "Words don't end at words. They lead to actions." Victoria Police, the state government and Lord Mayor of Melbourne Nicholas Reece will this week examine police powers to stamp out extreme and violent protests. "We back our police, we're giving them more powers," the premier said. Ms Allan promised bans on protests outside places of worship and demonstrators wearing face coverings after a blaze destroyed two buildings at the Adass Israel Synagogue in the city's south in December. However, the legislation is yet to be introduced to state parliament. The attacks drew an international response, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanding action against the "rioters". Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said those responsible for the "shocking acts" must face the full force of the law, as the US Embassy in Australia praised the "swift response". Victoria's opposition leader Brad Battin said the state needed to crack down on hate speech at protests by reinstating "move on" laws. Federal opposition frontbencher Melissa McIntosh has called for an urgent national cabinet meeting to deal with the issue. A new anti-hate taskforce charged with tackling the "bigger picture" of anti-Semitism will meet within days, as a premier vows to stamp out hatred towards Jews. At least four violent incidents in Melbourne are being treated as anti-Semitic attacks, including the firebombing of a synagogue on Friday night. Angelo Loras, a 34-year-old man from Sydney's west, faced court on Sunday, accused of setting the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation's front doors alight while 20 people were inside. The congregation had been singing traditional songs as they sat down for dinner after a regular service, when all of a sudden, chaos broke out. "My 13-year-old son comes running in and says, 'something's not right, the doorbell has been ringing'," Rabbi Dovid Gutnick told ABC radio. That's when they saw smoke and flames coming from under the door. Israeli restaurant Miznon in the CBD was targeted by masked pro-Palestinian protesters shortly afterwards, with a window smashed, tables flipped and chairs thrown as the group chanted "death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)". Hours later, a group spray-painted cars with anti-Semitic "inferences" and set them alight outside a Greensborough business in the city's northeast. CCTV footage released by police shows figures in black hooded jumpers lighting the fires, with detectives looking for five people who were last seen fleeing on e-bikes. A fourth incident involved stencils used to spray paint offensive images on pillars and walls near a holocaust museum in Elsternwick. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan visited the synagogue on Monday, after revealing details of the anti-hate taskforce intended to "look at the bigger picture across our city and state". "Just as the fire came to the front door here of this shule, that it was stopped, so too must we put a stop to the hate, put a stop to anti-Semitism," she told reporters outside. The incidents have not been declared terrorist attacks, but Victoria Police is working with counter terrorism officers to see if there are any links between the events. A 28-year-old from Footscray was the only arrest made for allegedly hindering police at Miznon, but has since been released. Police are still working on identifying other protesters involved. A group called Whistleblowers, Activists and Communities Alliance took responsibility for the incident. "While politicians in so-called Australia clutch their pearls over one meal that was interrupted, we ask people to refocus their attention on Israel's genocidal reign of terror over the Palestinians," a statement on the group's Instagram read. Rabbi Gutnick said his community was reeling from the incident, and that people can carry empathy for one group without descending into hate. "There is a boundary, and people have gone beyond the pale in the things that they've said and now in the things that are being done," he said. "Words don't end at words. They lead to actions." Victoria Police, the state government and Lord Mayor of Melbourne Nicholas Reece will this week examine police powers to stamp out extreme and violent protests. "We back our police, we're giving them more powers," the premier said. Ms Allan promised bans on protests outside places of worship and demonstrators wearing face coverings after a blaze destroyed two buildings at the Adass Israel Synagogue in the city's south in December. However, the legislation is yet to be introduced to state parliament. The attacks drew an international response, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanding action against the "rioters". Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said those responsible for the "shocking acts" must face the full force of the law, as the US Embassy in Australia praised the "swift response". Victoria's opposition leader Brad Battin said the state needed to crack down on hate speech at protests by reinstating "move on" laws. Federal opposition frontbencher Melissa McIntosh has called for an urgent national cabinet meeting to deal with the issue. A new anti-hate taskforce charged with tackling the "bigger picture" of anti-Semitism will meet within days, as a premier vows to stamp out hatred towards Jews. At least four violent incidents in Melbourne are being treated as anti-Semitic attacks, including the firebombing of a synagogue on Friday night. Angelo Loras, a 34-year-old man from Sydney's west, faced court on Sunday, accused of setting the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation's front doors alight while 20 people were inside. The congregation had been singing traditional songs as they sat down for dinner after a regular service, when all of a sudden, chaos broke out. "My 13-year-old son comes running in and says, 'something's not right, the doorbell has been ringing'," Rabbi Dovid Gutnick told ABC radio. That's when they saw smoke and flames coming from under the door. Israeli restaurant Miznon in the CBD was targeted by masked pro-Palestinian protesters shortly afterwards, with a window smashed, tables flipped and chairs thrown as the group chanted "death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)". Hours later, a group spray-painted cars with anti-Semitic "inferences" and set them alight outside a Greensborough business in the city's northeast. CCTV footage released by police shows figures in black hooded jumpers lighting the fires, with detectives looking for five people who were last seen fleeing on e-bikes. A fourth incident involved stencils used to spray paint offensive images on pillars and walls near a holocaust museum in Elsternwick. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan visited the synagogue on Monday, after revealing details of the anti-hate taskforce intended to "look at the bigger picture across our city and state". "Just as the fire came to the front door here of this shule, that it was stopped, so too must we put a stop to the hate, put a stop to anti-Semitism," she told reporters outside. The incidents have not been declared terrorist attacks, but Victoria Police is working with counter terrorism officers to see if there are any links between the events. A 28-year-old from Footscray was the only arrest made for allegedly hindering police at Miznon, but has since been released. Police are still working on identifying other protesters involved. A group called Whistleblowers, Activists and Communities Alliance took responsibility for the incident. "While politicians in so-called Australia clutch their pearls over one meal that was interrupted, we ask people to refocus their attention on Israel's genocidal reign of terror over the Palestinians," a statement on the group's Instagram read. Rabbi Gutnick said his community was reeling from the incident, and that people can carry empathy for one group without descending into hate. "There is a boundary, and people have gone beyond the pale in the things that they've said and now in the things that are being done," he said. "Words don't end at words. They lead to actions." Victoria Police, the state government and Lord Mayor of Melbourne Nicholas Reece will this week examine police powers to stamp out extreme and violent protests. "We back our police, we're giving them more powers," the premier said. Ms Allan promised bans on protests outside places of worship and demonstrators wearing face coverings after a blaze destroyed two buildings at the Adass Israel Synagogue in the city's south in December. However, the legislation is yet to be introduced to state parliament. The attacks drew an international response, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanding action against the "rioters". Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said those responsible for the "shocking acts" must face the full force of the law, as the US Embassy in Australia praised the "swift response". Victoria's opposition leader Brad Battin said the state needed to crack down on hate speech at protests by reinstating "move on" laws. Federal opposition frontbencher Melissa McIntosh has called for an urgent national cabinet meeting to deal with the issue.
