Man charged over alleged arson attack on Melbourne synagogue with worshippers inside

Thomson Reuters

· Posted: Jul 06, 2025 9:08 AM EDT | Last Updated: 3 hours ago

Australian constabulary person charged a antheral successful transportation with an alleged arson onslaught connected a Melbourne synagogue with worshippers wrong the building, the latest successful a bid of incidents targeting the nation's Jewish community.

There were nary injuries to the 20 radical wrong the East Melbourne Synagogue, who fled from the occurrence connected Friday night. Firefighters extinguished the blaze successful the superior of Victoria state.

Australia has experienced respective antisemitic incidents since the commencement of the Israel-Gaza warfare successful October 2023.

Counterterrorism detectives precocious connected Saturday arrested a 34-year-old nonmigratory of Sydney, superior of neighbouring New South Wales, charging him with offences including transgression harm by fire, constabulary said.

"The antheral allegedly poured a flammable liquid connected the beforehand doorway of the gathering and acceptable it connected occurrence earlier fleeing the scene," constabulary said successful a statement.

The suspect, whom the authorities declined to identify, was remanded successful custody aft his lawsuit was heard astatine Melbourne Magistrates Court connected Sunday and nary exertion was made for bail, the Australian Broadcasting Corp reported.

Synagogues targeted by vandalism, arson

Authorities are investigating whether the synagogue occurrence was linked to a disturbance connected Friday nighttime astatine an Israeli edifice successful Melbourne, successful which 1 idiosyncratic was arrested for hindering police.

The edifice was extensively damaged, according to the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, an umbrella radical for Australia's Jews.

It said the occurrence astatine the synagogue, 1 of Melbourne's oldest, was acceptable arsenic those wrong sat down to Sabbath dinner. 

Israeli President Isaac Herzog went connected X to "condemn outright the vile arson onslaught targeting Jews successful Melbourne's historical and oldest synagogue connected the Sabbath, and connected an Israeli edifice wherever radical had travel to bask a repast together."

"This is not the archetypal specified onslaught successful Australia successful caller months. But it indispensable beryllium the last," Herzog said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the incidents arsenic "severe hatred crimes" that helium viewed "with utmost gravity."

"The State of Israel volition proceed to basal alongside the Australian Jewish community," Netanyahu said connected X.

The incident came seven months aft different synagogue successful Melbourne was targeted by arsonists.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese precocious connected Saturday said those liable for Friday's onslaught should look the law's afloat force.

"My Government volition supply each indispensable enactment toward this effort," Albanese posted connected X.

Homes, schools, synagogues and vehicles successful Australia person been targeted by antisemitic vandalism and arson. The incidents included a fake program by organized transgression to onslaught a Sydney synagogue utilizing a caravan of explosives successful bid to divert constabulary resources, constabulary said successful March.