NSW man charged over Melbourne synagogue arson, as Israel's president condemns attack

SBS Australia

a day ago

A 34-year-old man has been charged over the arson attack at the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation. Twenty congregants were forced to flee the synagogue on Friday night after a bearded man doused the building's front door with flammable liquid before setting it alight. He fled on foot, while firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze, which was contained to the front entrance. A NSW man was arrested in Melbourne's CBD on Saturday about 8.15pm and charged with multiple offences, including reckless conduct endangering life, criminal damage by fire and possession of a controlled weapon.
The 34-year-old will appear before the bail and remand court on Sunday.
Damage is seen to the exterior of the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation. Source: AAP / James Ross Detectives will investigate the accused man's intent and ideology to determine if the incident was an act of terrorism.
Police yet to establish any links with other incidents Victoria Police said it was lucky no one was injured in another incident on the same night when protesters allegedly smashed a window, flipped tables and threw chairs outside Israeli restaurant Miznon in Melbourne's CBD. The group of protesters had splintered from a larger demonstration in the city before making their way to the restaurant in Hardware Lane, where they chanted "death to the IDF", referring to the Israel Defence Force.
A 28-year-old protester was arrested and released on summons for hindering police.
Police say it was luck that no one was injured at Israeli restaurant Miznon. Source: AAP / Josh Stayner Hours later, offenders spray-painted three cars and a wall outside a Greensborough business in Melbourne's northeast before setting fire to the vehicles, destroying one and damaging two. Police said there were "inferences of antisemitism" and the business had been "subjected to pro-Palestinian activity" in the past 12 months.
Detectives are investigating if there are any links between the three incidents.
Incidents condemned In a statement on Sunday (AEST) Israel's president Isaac Herzog said the attack on the synagogue, and the protest, was "vile". "It is intolerable that in 2025, we are still faced with the chilling image of an attempt to burn Jews alive as they pray, and attacks on Jewish businesses," Herzog said. "This is not the first such attack in Australia in recent months. But it must be the last." The attack on the 150-year-old temple was the 10th firebombing the Australian Jewish community has experienced in the past 12 months, Executive Council of Australian Jewry president Daniel Aghion said.
"This is a pattern of behaviour designed to create fear amongst the Jewish community, which it will not do," Aghion said.
The federal government has offered federal police and security and intelligence agency support to investigators. "Those responsible for these shocking acts must face the full force of the law," he said. The attacks come seven months after a blaze destroyed two buildings at the Adass Israel Synagogue in the city's south and forced worshippers inside to flee. No charges have been laid, although counterterrorism police have raided multiple properties as part of that investigation.