Latest news with #Greensborough
The Australian
15-07-2025
- Politics
- The Australian
Melbourne: Lovitt Technologies new video emerges from arson attack
A chilling new video has emerged on social media claiming to show footage from the attack on a Melbourne business by radical activists. The same social media page that anonymously posted a video from a person claiming credit for the attack on Monday posted the new footage. 'STOP ARMING 'ISRAEL' OR ELSE,' the caption on the new post reads. 'Footage from the cell that hit imperialist weapons firm Lovitt Technologies in Greensborough on the 5th of July.' The video appears to have been filmed from a body-worn camera and shows a fire being lit under the front wheel of a car. The person in the footage then spray-paints a message on a car before running away. At least two other people also run away. The first-person video shows a car being spray-painted. Picture: Instagram Throughout the new clip the contentious protest chant 'Death, death to the IDF' is played. The previous video, still unverified, shows a person speaking with a digitally altered voice and dressed head-to-toe in black. It was posted by the same account as the new video as a 'Communique from torching of three vehicles at Lovitt technologies'. CCTV of the incident shows five people entering the businesses just before 4am on July 5 and setting fire to three cars. It also shows a fire being lit underneath the front wheel of a car. Picture: Instagram 'This is a clear and serious threat,' the person said in the previous video. 'If you continue making weapons or components of any kind there will be consequences. Consider this a warning.' The person then said their motives were anti-Israel, anti-American and anti-Australian sentiment. A still from a video allegedly produced by a group that claims to be behind the attack on Lovitt Technologies in Greensborough. Picture: Supplied 'After 21 months of an accelerated genocide against the Palestinian people by the illegitimate Zionist entity, eight decades of American warmongering and imperialism, 2½ centuries of the most violent colonial oppression, ethnic cleansing and murder of Aboriginal peoples across so-called Australia, Lovitt Technologies has chosen its place at the intersection of these catastrophes,' the person said. The group claimed they were targeting Lovitt because it supplies components to weapons companies including Lockheed Martin, BAE and Boeing. People flee the scene in the newly released video. Picture: Instagram The company previously received a grant for work on the supply chain for F-35 fighter jets, a version of which is used by Israel. The video threatened the workers at the Melbourne office and said the group had been 'watching' them. 'Every worker in this supply chain is complicit,' the person said. Police confirmed on Monday that they were investigating the previously released video and the incident. 'The matter is now being investigated by the Victorian Joint Counter Terrorism Team, which includes personnel from Victoria Police, the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation,' a Victoria Police spokeswoman told NewsWire on Monday. 'Investigators are aware of a video which has been circulating where a group has claimed responsibility for the incident. 'This video is being reviewed as part of the ongoing investigation. 'Police have already released CCTV of five people they would like to speak to in relation to the incident. Each person was dressed in black hooded jumpers, backpacks and gloves.' Read related topics: Israel Brendan Kearns Cadet Journalist Brendan Kearns is a cadet journalist with News Corp Australia. He has written for The Australian, the Herald Sun, the Geelong Advertiser, CHOICE, Cosmos, and The Citizen. He won Democracy's Watchdogs' Student Award for Investigative Journalism 2024 and hosted the third season of award-winning podcast Uncurated. He studied as Master of Journalism at The University of Melbourne, before that he worked as a video producer and disability worker. @brendandkearns Brendan Kearns
News.com.au
14-07-2025
- Politics
- News.com.au
Shock new footage emerges from fire attack on Lovitt Technologies
A chilling new video has emerged on social media claiming to show footage from the attack on a Melbourne business by radical activists. The same social media page that anonymously posted a video from a person claiming credit for the attack on Monday posted the new footage. 'STOP ARMING 'ISRAEL' OR ELSE,' the caption on the new post reads. 'Footage from the cell that hit imperialist weapons firm Lovitt Technologies in Greensborough on the 5th of July.' The video appears to have been filmed from a body-worn camera and shows a fire being lit under the front wheel of a car. The person in the footage then spray-paints a message on a car before running away. At least two other people also run away. Throughout the new clip the contentious protest chant 'Death, death to the IDF' is played. The previous video, still unverified, shows a person speaking with a digitally altered voice and dressed head-to-toe in black. It was posted by the same account as the new video as a 'Communique from torching of three vehicles at Lovitt technologies'. CCTV of the incident shows five people entering the businesses just before 4am on July 5 and setting fire to three cars. 'This is a clear and serious threat,' the person said in the previous video. 'If you continue making weapons or components of any kind there will be consequences. Consider this a warning.' The person then said their motives were anti-Israel, anti-American and anti-Australian sentiment. 'After 21 months of an accelerated genocide against the Palestinian people by the illegitimate Zionist entity, eight decades of American warmongering and imperialism, 2½ centuries of the most violent colonial oppression, ethnic cleansing and murder of Aboriginal peoples across so-called Australia, Lovitt Technologies has chosen its place at the intersection of these catastrophes,' the person said. The group claimed they were targeting Lovitt because it supplies components to weapons companies including Lockheed Martin, BAE and Boeing. The company previously received a grant for work on the supply chain for F-35 fighter jets, a version of which is used by Israel. The video threatened the workers at the Melbourne office and said the group had been 'watching' them. 'Every worker in this supply chain is complicit,' the person said. Police confirmed on Monday that they were investigating the previously released video and the incident. 'The matter is now being investigated by the Victorian Joint Counter Terrorism Team, which includes personnel from Victoria Police, the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation,' a Victoria Police spokeswoman told NewsWire on Monday. 'Investigators are aware of a video which has been circulating where a group has claimed responsibility for the incident. 'This video is being reviewed as part of the ongoing investigation. 'Police have already released CCTV of five people they would like to speak to in relation to the incident. Each person was dressed in black hooded jumpers, backpacks and gloves.'
Daily Telegraph
05-07-2025
- Daily Telegraph
‘Feel gross': Dad's fury after discovering Joshua Brown worked at daughter's childcare centre
Don't miss out on the headlines from Breaking News. Followed categories will be added to My News. A Melbourne father has revealed the horrifying moment he realised his child had been in the care of accused pedophile Joshua Brown. Abraham Khoury's daughter attended Milestones Early Learning Centre in Greensborough in Melbourne's north east last year and was horrified when he found a photo of the accused pedophile alongside Mr Khoury's daughter. Melbourne father Abraham Khoury said he found a picture of his daughter alongside the accused sex offender. Picture: Channel 9 The image was taken on December 5, which Mr Khoury said he found on the childcare centre's communication app. He claimed neither the childcare centre, nor police, informed him that Mr Brown had allegedly worked at the centre. 'To know that he was there, and we were all kept in the dark about it, no one told us, there was no information available,' Mr Khoury told 9News. 'You're angry, you've been lied to. You feel gross.' Joshua Brown was spotted alongside Mr Khoury's daughter at an early learning centre in December last year. Picture: Channel 9 Mr Brown has been charged with 70 offences after he allegedly abused eight children at an early education centre in Point Cook between April 2022 and January 2023. It's alleged some of the children were as young as five months old. About 1200 children have since been advised to undergo testing for sexually transmitted diseases. The alleged offender worked in 20 childcare centres between January 2017 and May 2025, with a dedicated website established listing the childcare centres where he worked. The list includes three Milestones Early Leaning Centres in Hoppers Crossing, Werribee and Bundoora. However, the Greensborough centre was not mentioned on the list. The Melbourne man has been charged with 70 offences. Picture Supplied., Mr Khoury said he was horrified upon seeing the photo of the alleged sex offender with his daughter, and has since taken his child for testing. 'We have to get our child now tested for sexually transmitted diseases,' he said. The Melbourne father said he contacted the Greensborough centre, which is owned by Affinity Education Group, but heard nothing back. He urged for more to be done to protect children while attending early education centres. 'There needs to be reform, there needs to be cameras,' he told the outlet. 'There needs to be just more, because now it's just the bare minimum.' He worked at 20 childcare centres across the state since 2017. Picture Supplied., This week, Inspire Early Learning – which operates 16 childcare centres across Victoria and is not among one of the centres where Mr Brown worked – announced it would no longer allow male educators to change nappies or complete toilet duties at its centres. In a letter sent to parents, chief curriculum and quality officer Eleinna Anderson said male staff would still play a 'vital' role in activities and classroom preparation, but said the changes were a necessary step. 'The wellbeing and safety of your children are at the heart of everything we do,' she said per 7News. 'We're writing to share a few important updates to our guidelines around staff interactions with children and team responsibilities – changes made with careful thought and a continued commitment to maintaining a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment for all.' NewsWire has contacted Milestone Early Learning Centre and Affinity Group for comment. Originally published as 'Feel gross': Dad's fury after discovering Joshua Brown worked at daughter's childcare centre
News.com.au
05-07-2025
- News.com.au
‘Feel gross': Dad's fury after discovering Joshua Brown worked at daughter's childcare centre
A Melbourne father has revealed the horrifying moment he realised his child had been in the care of accused pedophile Joshua Brown. Abraham Khoury's daughter attended Milestones Early Learning Centre in Greensborough in Melbourne's north east last year and was horrified when he found a photo of the accused pedophile alongside Mr Khoury's daughter. The image was taken on December 5, which Mr Khoury said he found on the childcare centre's communication app. He claimed neither the childcare centre, nor police, informed him that Mr Brown had allegedly worked at the centre. 'To know that he was there, and we were all kept in the dark about it, no one told us, there was no information available,' Mr Khoury told 9News. 'You're angry, you've been lied to. You feel gross.' Mr Brown has been charged with 70 offences after he allegedly abused eight children at an early education centre in Point Cook between April 2022 and January 2023. It's alleged some of the children were as young as five months old. About 1200 children have since been advised to undergo testing for sexually transmitted diseases. The alleged offender worked in 20 childcare centres between January 2017 and May 2025, with a dedicated website established listing the childcare centres where he worked. The list includes three Milestones Early Leaning Centres in Hoppers Crossing, Werribee and Bundoora. However, the Greensborough centre was not mentioned on the list. Mr Khoury said he was horrified upon seeing the photo of the alleged sex offender with his daughter, and has since taken his child for testing. 'We have to get our child now tested for sexually transmitted diseases,' he said. The Melbourne father said he contacted the Greensborough centre, which is owned by Affinity Education Group, but heard nothing back. He urged for more to be done to protect children while attending early education centres. 'There needs to be reform, there needs to be cameras,' he told the outlet. 'There needs to be just more, because now it's just the bare minimum.' This week, Inspire Early Learning – which operates 16 childcare centres across Victoria and is not among one of the centres where Mr Brown worked – announced it would no longer allow male educators to change nappies or complete toilet duties at its centres. In a letter sent to parents, chief curriculum and quality officer Eleinna Anderson said male staff would still play a 'vital' role in activities and classroom preparation, but said the changes were a necessary step. 'The wellbeing and safety of your children are at the heart of everything we do,' she said per 7News. 'We're writing to share a few important updates to our guidelines around staff interactions with children and team responsibilities – changes made with careful thought and a continued commitment to maintaining a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment for all.'
RNZ News
05-07-2025
- RNZ News
Man sets fire to synagogue in East Melbourne as Israeli-owned restaurant targeted by protesters
Police say about 20 people were inside the synagogue when the attack happened but all escaped without injury. Photo: ABC / Rachel Clayton Police are investigating a third antisemitic incident that took place across Melbourne overnight. A synagogue in East Melbourne was first set alight about 8pm (10pm New Zealand time) on Friday, followed by a protest at a Jewish-owned restaurant in the CBD a few hours later. On Saturday afternoon, Victoria Police revealed details about another incident that occurred at a business in Greensborough about 4.30am (6.30am NZT). "It's understood that unknown offenders attended a business on Para Road and set fire to three cars," Acting Commander Zorka Dunstan said. "They also used spray paint on the cars and a building wall. One of the cars was destroyed, the other two were moderately damaged." Commander Dunstan said the incident involved "some references of antisemitism", and the business had been subject to pro-Palestinian activity over the past year which led police to believe it may be connected to the other two incidents from Friday. "At this stage there are no links, but police aren't discounting them," she said. It comes after Australia's national security agency, ASIO, and federal police (AFP) joined the investigation into the arson attack on the synagogue and restaurant protest. The Victorian premier, opposition and police have joined members of the Australian Jewish community in condemning both attacks in the CBD. Investigators said a man entered the grounds of the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation on Albert Street at about 8pm on Friday, poured a flammable liquid on the front door and set it alight. There were about 20 people inside the synagogue at the time who evacuated through the building's rear, police said. No injuries have been reported. Victoria Police have released the image of a man detectives want to speak to about the fire. He has been described as being of Caucasian appearance, believed to be in his 30s with a beard and long hair. Damage from the fire was contained to the front entrance. Police said neither of the three incidents were being treated as an act of terrorism at this stage. It is the second arson attack on a Jewish place of worship in Melbourne since December, when a fire destroyed the Adass Israel Synagogue in Ripponlea in the city's inner south-east. Last month, authorities raided a number of homes in Melbourne's north in relation to the Adass Israel attack and released CCTV vision of the incident. Rabbi Dovid Gutnick was inside the synagogue at the time of the attack. He said there had been a large number of people in the congregation, including locals, families and tourists, for the regular Friday service earlier. He said some people remained to eat dinner when they began to notice some strange movements on their security camera feed. He said someone began ringing the doorbell and then smoke began entering the building. "I feel like if we didn't have a fire station on the corner and if we weren't as vigilant as we had been training ourselves to be, it could have been a lot worse," Rabbi Gutnick said. Rabbi Gutnick said he believed the CCTV footage showed the attack was "well prepared" and deliberate. "There's certainly kind of a pall or some type of darkness hovering at the moment and it's a bit uncomfortable, it's upsetting," he said. "But at the same time, it kind of makes a synagogue like ours, our work even more important - to be welcoming, to be a beacon." Jenny Segal, who was having dinner inside the synagogue when the fire broke out, said the incident was frightening. "It was a very, very big night, very scary, but everybody was safe. "I'm really shocked and can't believe that that could happen in our beautiful city and we always felt safe here but this is another feeling now after what's happened last night. It's very strange." The incident at Miznon restaurant followed a protest involving around 70 people on Swanston Street in the evening before the smaller group continued to the Hardware Lane restaurant, shouting offensive chants. A 28-year-old from Footscray was arrested and released on summons for hindering police. Victorian Police Minister Anthony Carbines announced on Saturday morning that he had spoken with Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke. "The full resources of ASIO and the AFP are backing Victoria Police in their investigations into both the attempted arson at the Melbourne East synagogue overnight, also the intimidation and violence that we saw at the restaurant in the CBD," Carbines said. "Those who think they can set fire to a place of worship overnight that is full of worshippers, that is a heinous act, a horrific act, a criminal act and people will be held to account for it." Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said she stood with the Jewish community in its fight against hate, violence and fear. "This is disgraceful behaviour by a pack of cowards," Allan said. "That this happened on Shabbat makes it all the more abhorrent." She said the attack was designed to shatter the peace and traumatise Jewish families. "Any attack on a place of worship is an act of hate, and any attack on a Jewish place of worship is an act of antisemitism. "There should be no hesitation in calling this what it is." Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also issued a brief statement about the attacks. "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," he said. Federal Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Anne Aly, said she and Mr Bourke had spoken to Australia's Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism, Jill Segal, about the need for broader education about the "insidious nature of antisemitism and the impact it has on Jewish Australians". Shadow Police Minister David Southwick is Jewish and his electorate includes a large section of Melbourne's Jewish community. He said the attacks must be treated as hate crimes. "We just cannot have a situation where the city of Melbourne is being hijacked by these activists and really want to play out what's happening in the Middle East thousands of miles away. "It has nothing to do with Melburnians, it has nothing to do with many Jews in Melbourne who just want to get on with their lives." He said the synagogue targeted by the arsonist was one of the oldest in Melbourne, dating back to the 1870s. Rabbi Gutnick said security may be tightened around the synagogue to make it harder to access the building. "But you also want the synagogue to be welcoming," he said. "We're part of a faith precinct - St Peter's, St Patrick's, the Lutheran church ... it's a beautiful space, it's peaceful, by and large, we all get along, we have a clergy meeting once a month ... it's a lovely part of town, you'd hate to think we'd turn it into Fort Knox." One of the leaders of a neighbouring church arrived at the scene this morning to support Rabbi Gutnick. Jewish Community Council of Victoria CEO Naomi Levin said she was heartened by the number of passers-by who stopped to offer support and sympathy to members of the congregation. "[Melbourne's] Lord Mayor Nick Reece was there, staff from the premier's office came down," she said. "It just showed that [the attackers] are outliers. These are extremists, this is not who we are, Australians are not violent or aggressive." Federal Opposition Leader Sussan Ley called the arson attack "horrifying". What happened in Melbourne last night was horrifying. A synagogue set alight while families gathered for Shabbat dinner. An Israeli restaurant stormed and terrorised by protesters chanting 'death to the IDF.' This is not protest. This is hate. And it has no place in Australia. Chair of the Anti-Defamation Commission, Dvir Abramovich, said the synagogue attack was barbaric and could have been fatal. "They came armed with hatred," Abramovich said. "We are not asking for sympathy. We want action. We want justice. We want protection." - ABC
