
‘Iran is da bomb': Vandals target historic Melbourne synagogue
The heritage-listed Melbourne Hebrew Congregation synagogue was targeted by vandals on Sunday.
One piece of graffiti read 'Iran is da bomb' inscribed in a mushroom cloud, alongside another piece of vandalism that said 'free Palestine'.
'It is believed a wall of the Toorak Road premises was graffitied by an unknown person sometime on Sunday afternoon,' a police spokesman said.
'That was removed but unknown offenders again graffitied the building sometime on Sunday evening.'
The original graffitied message also said 'free Palestine'.
'There is absolutely no place at all in our society for anti-Semitic or hate-based symbols and behaviour,' the police spokesman said.
Police want anyone with information to come forward.
Rabbi Shlomo Nathanson told the Herald Sun: 'We're just frustrated and exhausted by all of this and we hope that is shared by members outside Jewish community'.
'We feel this to be an attack on the Melbourne Hebrew Congregation and it is unacceptable.
'While this is an offence to the Jewish community, it is our hope that people say 'not on my watch, not in my Australia',' the Rabbi said.
The Premier labelled the graffiti 'disgraceful' and 'senseless'.
'It is just so vitally important that we do not allow conflict and violence overseas to divide us here in Melbourne and Victoria,' Jacinta Allan said.
The Melbourne Hebrew Congregation is a monumental temple on the high-traffic corner of Toorak Road and St Kilda Road, about 2km south of the CBD.
The building was constructed between 1928 and 1930. The synagogue is heritage-listed for its historical, aesthetic and social significance.
The graffiti referencing Iran was written about 12 hours after the US bombed Iranian facilities, which are suspected of being used to enrich uranium and develop nuclear weapons.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Perth Now
16 minutes ago
- Perth Now
Accused Israeli restaurant protester remains in custody
A man accused of throwing food, water and chairs during a protest outside an Israeli restaurant will remain in custody for at least another week. Antwany Arnold, 50, applied for bail in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday afternoon after he was charged with affray and throwing a missile over the July 4 incident. Police allege he was among a group of pro-Palestine protesters who converged outside Israeli restaurant Miznon in Melbourne's CBD. Arnold allegedly participated in an anti-Israel chant before throwing food and two dining chairs in the direction of the restaurant. He's also accused of throwing water at a neighbouring restaurant on Hardware Lane. CCTV footage of the Miznon incident was played in court, alongside police body-worn camera footage of another incident in April where Arnold is accused of spitting on a man. It's alleged he was playing offensive chants from a speaker on Bourke Street in Melbourne's CBD when a member of the public told him to turn the audio off. Arnold is accused of then swearing at the man and making threats to kill, before spitting on the alleged victim as the police arrested him. He's also accused of using offensive language towards officers during the arrest. The court was told Arnold was bailed over the Bourke Street incident, with a condition to not enter the Melbourne CBD. It's alleged he breached those bail conditions during the Miznon incident and on another occasion in July when he attended a protest in the city. The prosecutor claimed Arnold's offending at the Israeli restaurant was politically motivated and his decision to protest should not absolve him of criminal responsibility. But defence lawyer Tim Hutton said the protest was not driven by anti-Semitism, rather the group was condemning the actions of Israel's defence force against the Palestinian people. Magistrate Michelle Mykytowycz said the purpose of the protest was separate to her consideration of Arnold's alleged offending and whether he was a risk to the community. Mr Hutton denied Arnold posed an unacceptable risk, telling the court the 50-year-old had attended weekly protests for the past two years without turning to violence. He was also planning to contest the charges so the delays might mean his time in pre-sentence detention could surpass any eventual sentence, the lawyer said. Arnold was also a vulnerable man who was finding his time in custody more difficult, the court was told. Mr Hutton argued a curfew and reporting condition could be added to Arnold's bail to reduce his risk to the community. Ms Mykytowycz said she would need time to re-watch the footage and consider other material before deciding on the application. Arnold will return to court on July 30 for the bail decision.

ABC News
4 hours ago
- ABC News
Thousands protest legislation that weakens anti-corruption agencies in Ukraine
Thousands of people gathered in Kyiv and other cities across Ukraine to urge President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to veto a controversial bill that threatens anti-corruption infrastructure. It marked the largest public protests against the government in more than three years of war. Many protesters carried signs reading "Veto the law", "Protect the anti-corruption system, protect Ukraine's future", or simply "We are against it". On Tuesday, Ukraine's parliament passed legislation that will tighten oversight of two key anti-corruption agencies, which critics say could significantly weaken their independence and autonomy and give Mr Zelenskyy's circle more control over investigations. The changes would grant the prosecutor general new authority over investigations and cases handled by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO). "In effect, if this bill becomes law, the head of SAPO will become a nominal figure, while NABU will lose its independence and turn into a subdivision of the prosecutor general's office," the agencies said in a joint statement on Telegram. The legislation's passage triggered public outrage in Ukraine, with some saying it appeared to be a greater moral blow than the routine Russian drone and missile attacks. Some protesters accused Ukraine's leadership of prioritising loyalty and personal connections over the fight against corruption. "Those who swore to protect the laws and the Constitution have instead chosen to shield their inner circle, even at the expense of Ukrainian democracy," said veteran Oleh Symoroz, sitting in a wheelchair because both his legs were amputated after he was wounded in 2022. "Instead of setting an example of zero tolerance for corruption, the president is using his power to take control of criminal cases involving his allies," he said. The legislation has also drawn sharp criticism from the heads of both agencies and a top EU official. Fighting entrenched corruption is crucial for Ukraine's bid to join the European Union and maintain access to billions of dollars in Western aid. In a post on X, the EU's Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos expressed concern over the vote in the parliament, called the Rada, calling it "a serious step back". "Independent bodies like NABU & SAPO are essential for Ukraine's EU path. Rule of Law remains in the very center of EU accession negotiations," Ms Kos added. The Ukrainian branch of Transparency International criticised parliament's decision, saying it undermines one of the most significant reforms since what Ukraine calls its Revolution of Dignity in 2014 and damages trust with international partners. The group urged Mr Zelenskyy to veto the law, warning that otherwise he would share responsibility with the Rada for "dismantling Ukraine's anti-corruption infrastructure". On Monday, Ukraine's domestic security agency detained two NABU officials on suspicion of links to Russia and searched other agency employees on unrelated allegations. Last week, Mr Zelenskyy reshuffled his wartime cabinet in a move widely seen as centralising power within his inner circle. AP

The Age
6 hours ago
- The Age
Third Melbourne council to hire private security guards as ‘safety issues at their worst level'
An inner-west Melbourne council has become the third municipality to take crime prevention into its own hands by hiring private security to patrol antisocial hotspots, prompting calls for more police resources and funds for support services. After an hour-long debate, Maribyrnong council voted on Tuesday night to support hiring guards to patrol central Footscray after a spate of violent incidents, including an alleged murder in the Nicholson Street mall and the fatal police shooting of a homeless man. The six-month trial is expected to begin in August and would cost ratepayers up to $100,000 for two security officers for 24 hours a week. The decision follows a similar move at Melbourne City Council, which last month made its CBD security guard scheme permanent after a three-month pilot. The scheme costs $2 million for 11 guards per year. Wyndham City Council, in the outer west, also voted last month to pay $372,000 for private security to patrol the streets of Truganina in a 12-month trial. Security guards' powers are limited to citizen's arrests as they are unable to use force, but councils argue that they create a passive safety presence while accompanying the council's local law officers, who enforce on-street behavioural issues such as public nuisance and alcohol consumption. Security guard patrols are also increasingly being paid for by private operators, such as at housing estates in Melbourne's outer suburbs to combat theft and violence and Jewish schools and communities fearing antisemitic attacks. Opposition Leader Brad Battin blamed the government for fuelling a trend of local councils turning to private security to help their communities feel safe, which is costing ratepayers. 'When local councils are forced to step in and fund private security to fill the gaps, it's a clear sign that the Labor government has failed to deliver on one of its most basic responsibilities: keeping Victorians safe,' Battin said.