Latest news with #CounterTerrorismSecurityInvestigationUnit
Sky News AU
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
‘We probably all have the same view': Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke says police considering classing synagogue attack as terrorism
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has said 'we probably all have the same view' about the Melbourne synagogue attack, as authorities investigate whether terrorism charges may apply. Mr Burke attended the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation on Sunday, after the place of worship was allegedly targeted in an arson attack. Detectives from Victoria Police's Counter Terrorism Security Investigation Unit have since arrested a man who is suspected of attempting to set the building on fire. Speaking from the grounds, Mr Burke described the alleged arson as 'an attack on Australia', amid concerns about domestic antisemitism. 'There were three attacks that night, and none of them belonged in Australia,' Mr Burke said. 'Arson attacks, the chanting calls for death, other attacks and graffiti — none of it belonged in Australia. And they were attacks on Australia.' When asked if the attack should be classified as terrorism, Mr Burke said that decision rests with Victorian Police but acknowledged the community concern. 'I think every Australian has a view, and we probably all have the same view as to where that will end up. But we leave that with the Victorian police,' he said. It comes after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese faced criticism in 2024 for not labelling another synagogue attack as terrorism. A 34-year-old man from Toongabbie, New South Wales has been charged over the latest alleged arson. Police allege he poured flammable liquid on the synagogue's front door and set it alight before fleeing. The fire was quickly extinguished and no one was physically injured, though about 20 people inside were celebrating Shabbat at the time. 'There's been some reporting that no one was physically injured. That doesn't mean no one was harmed,' Mr Burke said. 'The community here was harmed. The Jewish community in Australia was harmed. And we were harmed as a nation.' Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has demanded the Albanese government take stronger action on the matter, in a statement released on Sunday. 'I view with utmost gravity the antisemitic attacks that occurred last night in Melbourne,' he said. 'The reprehensible antisemitic attacks, with calls of 'Death to the IDF' and an attempt to attack a place of worship, are severe hate crimes that must be uprooted. 'We demand that the Australian government take all action to deal with the rioters to the fullest extent of the law and prevent similar attacks in the future.' Mr Burke has spoken with the Israeli Ambassador to Australia about the incident, in what he described as a 'good conversation'. 'I'm not going to talk of anything else. And my conversation with the Israeli ambassador yesterday, he rang me, and I was very grateful for that call,' he said. The Home Affairs Minister used his visit to urge all Australians to actively counter antisemitism in their daily lives. 'Be kind and welcoming on purpose. Make the effort,' he said. 'And if you see the slightest moment… where someone makes the slightest comments that you think could be steeped in antisemitism or other forms of bigotry, just bring them back.'
Sky News AU
19 hours ago
- Sky News AU
A NSW man has been charged over an alleged arson attack on an East Melbourne synagogue
A man has been charged over the alleged arson attack on an East Melbourne Synagogue on Friday night. 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.
Sky News AU
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke condemns suspected arson attack, visits Melbourne synagogue
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke will visit the Melbourne synagogue targeted in a suspected arson attack. Mr Burke will attend the site on Sunday after a man allegedly attempted to set the building on fire with people inside on Friday night. In a joint statement, Mr Burke and Multicultural Affairs Minister Anne Aly expressed horror over the suspected attack, which saw a man allegedly set fire to the entrance of the East Melbourne Synagogue. There were approximately 20 people, including children, inside the synagogue at the time of the incident taking part in Shabbat. Detectives from the Counter Terrorism Security Investigation Unit have since charged a 34-year-old Toongabbie man. 'I condemn last night's disgusting attack in the strongest possible terms. Australians have a right to feel safe and protected from violence and bigotry,' Mr Burke said. 'I was briefed by the acting head of ASIO and the Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police, as well as the Victorian Minister for Police Anthony Carbines,. 'I've also spoken to the Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism, Jillian Segal, and the Secretary of the Department of Home Affairs, Stephanie Foster.' Ms Aly said the government 'condemns these kinds of violent acts of hatred' as she reiterated support for the Jewish community. 'All Australians have a right to safety. Acts of antisemitism violate that right and should face the full force of the law,' she said. 'The government will continue to work with the special envoy on measures to prevent these vile and cowardly attacks.' Police have alleged that an unknown man entered the grounds of the Albert Street synagogue about 8pm on Friday night. The man poured a flammable liquid over the front entrance, setting it alight before fleeing on foot in a westerly direction. No one was injured in the incident, and the fire – attended to by emergency services – was contained to the front door. Victoria Police confirmed the investigation was ongoing and said they are 'engaging with people from the synagogue'. 'There is absolutely no place in our society for antisemitic or hate-based behaviour,' police said. Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin told Sky News the attack marked 'a return to the antisemitic terror of the summer months'. 'These events are a severe escalation directed towards our community and clear evidence that the antisemitism crisis is not only continuing, but getting worse,' he said. 'We urge all sides of politics and all Australians to condemn these deplorable crimes… Those responsible cannot be reasoned with or appeased. 'They must be confronted with the full force of the law.' The federal opposition has also condemned the attack and called on the government to step up efforts to prevent antisemitism. 'Our Jewish community lives under an increasing threat and we have not seen sufficient action or urgency from the Albanese government,' opposition leader Sussan Ley said. 'The Coalition wrote to the Prime Minister on 15 June calling for strengthened security protections for Jewish communities. 'We have not received any response and we have not seen the strong action we need. The opposition calls on the Prime Minister to take stronger action. 'We will not step back from criticising this clear failure from a Prime Minister who has gone missing when these Australians need him.' Mr Burke said the government had earlier introduced 'tough new measures to punish anyone convicted of carrying out violent crimes motivated by bigotry'. The synagogue involved, also known as the Melbourne Hebrew Congregation, is one of the oldest in Australia, with a rich history dating back to 1841. Police have appealed for information as they search for the alleged offender.
Sydney Morning Herald
a day ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Charges over East Melbourne synagogue fire
A man has been charged following a suspicious fire at a synagogue in East Melbourne. Detectives from the Counter Terrorism Security Investigation Unit charged the 34-year-old from Toongabbie, NSW after arresting him in the Melbourne CBD on Saturday evening about 8.15pm. He has been interviewed by detectives and was charged with reckless conduct endangering life, reckless conduct endangering serious injury, criminal damage by fire, and possession of a controlled weapon. A police statement said that detectives would 'continue to examine the intent and ideology of the person charged to determine if the incident is in fact terrorism'. There were about 20 people inside the synagogue taking part in Shabbat when flammable liquid was poured on the front door of the building and it was set alight. Police allege the man was seen walking through Parliament Gardens before entering the grounds of the synagogue on Albert Street on 4 July about 8pm. He will appear before the Bail and Remand Court on Sunday.
Sky News AU
a day ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley says attempted attack on East Melbourne Synagogue an act of 'hate'
An attack on a Jewish synagogue has been condemned by Sussan Ley who declared the incident an act of "hate". An unknown man is understood to have entered the grounds of the synagogue on Albert Street in East Melbourne about 8pm on Friday night. The alleged offender poured a flammable liquid at the front entrance of the East Melbourne Synagogue, before allegedly setting it on fire and fleeing the scene on foot in a westerly direction. About 20 people were inside the synagogue enjoying a Shabbat dinner when the incident happened, but they safely self-evacuated out the back of the building. The Opposition Leader said the act was "horrifying". 'This is not protest,' she wrote on social media platform X. 'This is hate. And it has no place in Australia.' Victorian Liberal MP David Southwick said the Jewish community 'deserves protection, not platitudes'. 'A second arson attack on a synagogue in Melbourne, this time on the Sabbath along with a Jewish restaurant in the CBD,' he said in a statement. 'The perpetrators and organisers must be found and brought to justice. My thoughts are with every members of the Jewish community affected by these vile attacks.' 'We cannot let these haters hijack our streets, our city, or our state. We must stand united against anti-Semitic violence.' Former Liberal treasurer Josh Frydenberg said Australia had to continue trying to stamp out antisemitism. 'When you firebomb a synagogue with people inside & attack a local restaurant because it's owned by Jews, it's NOT about Israel, it's NOT about protest, it's a hate crime,' Mr Frydenberg wrote on X. 'Violent anti-Semitism is a threat to us all & until it's called out for what it really is, it will continue!' No injuries have been reported. Firefighters attended the scene and put the blaze out, but it was fortunately contained to just the front door. Victoria Police have confirmed the investigation is now with the detectives from the Counter Terrorism Security Investigation Unit. The incident is not being treated as a terrorism incident, but the investigation will look at the "intent and ideology" of the person or persons responsible to determine if the incident is actually an act of terrorism, a police statement said. Police have released an image of a man who detectives want to speak to in relation to the matter. The man is described as being aged in his mid 30's, having a beard and long hair. He was wearing a dark blue or black jumper, black pants and black beanie when pictured. Detectives are also investigating potential links to two other overnight incidents, including a public order incident and an arson and criminal damage to a business. Northwest Metro Region Acting Commander Zorka Dunston told media on Thursday afternoon it was "incredibly lucky" that no one was injured the incident. "I'd like to make it very clear that we do recognise that these crimes are disgusting and abhorrent. But at this stage, we are not declaring this a terrorist incident," she said. "... Whilst I acknowledge that the fire itself may be small in nature, we are taking this investigation incredibly seriously. And given there were 20 people inside the building at the time, the outcome could have been a lot more devastating. "This was clearly a targeted fire and we will not accept any acts of antisemitism or hate-based crime."
