Latest news with #AdassIsrael
The Guardian
7 hours ago
- The Guardian
Victoria police charge man accused of stealing ‘communal crime car' used in Adass Israel synagogue arson attack
A man accused of stealing 'a communal crime car' used in an arson attack on a Melbourne synagogue has been arrested and charged, with Victoria police also alleging he blocked detectives from accessing apps on his phone. The attack on the ultra-Orthodox Adass Israel synagogue in December is still being investigated as a politically motivated attack by the Victorian joint counter-terrorism team, which includes representatives from the federal police and the domestic spy agency, Asio. The man, 20, was arrested in the Melbourne suburb of Williamstown on Wednesday and has been charged with theft of a blue VW Golf in November, which police allege was later used by those involved in the attack on the Adass Israel synagogue and other crime. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email He was also charged with failing to comply with a police order under the Crimes Act to provide detectives with access to applications on his phone. Leaders of the Adass community were briefed on the situation by senior members of Victoria police, including lead investigators, shortly after the arrest on Wednesday. They have been briefed on an almost weekly basis. So far, police have not arrested anyone accused of ordering or carrying out the attack. On Thursday, the Age reported the investigation had 'stalled', in part due to the use of encrypted technology concealing the identities of those involved. Victoria police did not comment on the use of encrypted technology, but said the investigation remained a priority and was still being investigated as a likely terrorist attack. After the arrest, police searched a home in the suburb of Melton South, where detectives seized 'items subject to further investigation'. Previously described as a 'communal crime car' by police, officials say the vehicle was also used in an arson attack at the Lux nightclub in Melbourne's South Yarra in November as well as a shooting in Bundoora the same night as the synagogue fire. The nightclub fire and shooting are being investigated by Victoria police and are not considered politically motivated. The car has also been linked to 'a number of serious and violent crimes' including aggravated burglaries and 'petrol drive-offs' in Brunswick, Cranbourne North, Caulfield South and Hampton. In May, police said that car had been fitted with cloned plates. Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion Police said CCTV footage of the attack on the Adass Israel synagogue showed a 'blue Golf … drive past the Adass Israel synagogue multiple times before parking outside the main entrance on 6 December 2024'. Police said the footage then showed 'three individuals dressed in hoodies and masks get out of the vehicle and use an axe to damage the entrance of the synagogue', and 'at least two individuals commence pouring the contents of red jerry cans inside the entrance of the synagogue, before entering the building'. 'It shows the individuals making multiple trips to the Golf to get more jerry cans, which were poured inside the synagogue before the liquid was ignited.' Police allege one person recorded the attack on their phone. The 20-year-old man was granted conditional bail and will appear in court on 3 October.
News.com.au
04-07-2025
- Politics
- News.com.au
‘Terrible virus': Anti-Semitism hearing told of rise in incidents in 2025
An inquiry into anti-Semitism across Australia has been told the 'terrible virus' is spreading across the country. Last July the Federal Government appointed Australia's first Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism (ASECA), following a rise in apparent anti-Semitic attacks. Jillian Segal AO told a hearing at NSW parliament on Friday a spate of anti-Semitic acts in NSW over the past summer have contributed to 'anxiety and unease' in the Jewish community. 'Anti-Semitism is such a terrible virus that eats away at our fundamental Australian values,' she said. Since her appointment to the envoy nearly 12 months ago, Ms Segal told the parliamentary hearing she has met with many political and civil leaders across the country. Anti-Semitic acts that Ms Segal referenced included the caravan full of explosives found in Dural, NSW in January which appeared to target the Jewish community. 'The Dural caravan contained explosives and it deliberately targeted the Jewish community and created a sense of vulnerability among the Jewish community,' she said. Ms Segal said the assertion that the Dural caravan was 'merely a harmless hoax' and 'did not in fact terrorise the Jewish community' was false. 'Whether or not the caravan was ultimately intended to be used in a terror attack, it had the effect of causing a great deal of fear and anxiety in the Jewish community, which was already on edge following the succession of arson and graffiti attacks, as well as the terror attack on the Adass Israel synagogue in Melbourne,' she said. Ms Segal was asked about the impacts of a violent pro-Palestinian rally at the Sydney Opera House, on October 9, 2023, following Hamas attacks, and if those events 'set the tone for everything that has happened following that incident.' 'I think it was a terrible incident that did indicate to people who were underlying anti-Semitic that they could continue behaving that way,' she said. 'Anti-Semitism is a hatred and behaving that way in that community is shaped by leadership. 'Leadership is incredibly important and leader's condemning certain attitudes and behaviours sets the tone. 'I don't think everything that has happened has been a result of that … but it was an opportunity for it to be stamped out.' Ms Segal said Jewish Australians should not have to live in fear. 'No Jewish person should be told it's not safe to visit the opera house, or to visit a NSW hospital. Or worry about the safety of their children at a Jewish school,' she said. Rising anti-Semitism is being seen 'everywhere', Ms Segal said, which requires a range of approaches. 'We need a whole host of responses not only individual leadership but we need legislation, condemnation and education,' she said. 'We need to make sure it doesn't in any way send the message that it is acceptable.' Deputy Commissioner David Hudson NSW Police Force told the hearing 33 per cent of reports of hate crimes to his team have been of an anti-Semitic nature. NSW Police have received a total of 1,121 reports of anti-Semitic acts so far in 2025, the inquiry was told. 'This type of behaviour and offending is not going away,' Mr Hudson said. Strike force Pearl formed to investigate anti-Semitic acts, has seen 14 incidents which were on the 'higher end of the spectrum' of offending, Mr Hudson said, which included attacks and firebombing of Jewish centres and synagogues. 'We certainly believe they were anti-Semitic in nature … the Jewish community was targeted, they were putting lives in danger and ultimately I don't think we would consider it anything but anti-Semitic in nature,' he said. Those 14 attacks were allegedly conducted by criminal networks, Mr Hudson said, with one 'individual of interest' seen as a catalyst for those incidents, who had allegedly made social media posts that were anti-Semitic in nature.
ABC News
06-06-2025
- General
- ABC News
Homes raided by terror taskforce investigating Adass Israel synagogue fire
Police detectives investigating the firebombing of a Melbourne synagogue have raided several homes in the city's north. Police revealed officers from the Joint Counter-Terrorism Taskforce executed search warrants on Friday morning at at least three homes in relation to the fire at the Adass Israel synagogue in December last year. No-one has been arrested. Benjamin Klein, who is on the board of the synagogue, said police briefed leaders on the raids on Friday morning. He said updates on the investigation were, at times, hard to hear. "They said no arrests have been made but they're very comfortable with how the investigation's proceeding," Mr Klein said. Mr Klein said his community was hoping to start rebuilding as early as October. The raids come just weeks after the taskforce — made up of detectives from Victoria Police and the Australian Federal Police — released security footage of the people they believed were responsible for the arson attack. The vision shows two people pouring the contents of several jerry cans into the synagogue before igniting the liquid while a third films. Police have since revealed the trio were travelling in a stolen blue Volkswagen Gold sedan which was also used in an arson at the Lux nightclub in South Yarra, in the city's south, and an arson and shooting in Bundoora, in Melbourne's north. Two men — aged 21 and 22 from Pakenham — had since been arrested in relation to the nightclub fire but police said there was nothing to indicate they were involved in the synagogue blaze. The 22-year-old was charged later with criminal damage by fire, burglary, three thefts of a motor vehicle and traffic offences, police said.
Sydney Morning Herald
06-06-2025
- Sydney Morning Herald
Adass Israel synagogue fire: Police raid properties in Melbourne's northern suburbs
State and Federal police say they have carried out a number of search warrants in northern Melbourne, after a Ripponlea synagogue was firebombed late last year. Members of the Adass Israel congregation were forced to flee the early morning fire at the synagogue on Friday December 6, 2024, after two masked gunmen set it on fire. Police issued a brief statement about the raids on Friday morning. 'Victoria Police and the Australian Federal Police have executed a number of search warrants in Melbourne's northern suburbs this morning as part of the Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) investigation into an arson attack,' the police said. 'At this time there are no further updates and the investigation remains ongoing, with further updates to be provided when appropriate.' Loading Officers renewed their pleas for witnesses and people with footage off the attack to come forward and speak to them. 'This investigation continues to be treated as a priority including the involvement of significant resources across all agencies,' they said. 'The JCTT is also regularly engaging with the relevant communities in relation to the status of the investigation.'
ABC News
15-05-2025
- ABC News
CCTV shows moment Melbourne synagogue firebombed
Police have released CCTV footage of people they suspect fire bombed a Melbourne synagogue last year. The Adass Israel synagogue was established by Holocaust survivors and its destruction devastated the Jewish community and was condemned by political leaders. The investigation being conducted by a counter terrorism taskforce set up by federal and Victorian police is still yet to make an arrest.
