Hooded figures, an underworld getaway car: Police allege link between synagogue, nightclub fires
A blue getaway car alleged to have been passed around the underworld for use in violent crimes is at the centre of an investigation into the firebombing of a Melbourne synagogue, as police release dramatic new footage in their hunt for the attackers.
Victoria Police on Thursday revealed the car used in the firebombing of the Adass Israel synagogue in Ripponlea, in Melbourne's south-east on December 6, is believed to have been involved in a string of other crimes, including a drive-by shooting in Bundoora the same night and an arson attack that engulfed a popular nightclub in flames about two weeks earlier.
While the other crimes are not believed to have been politically motivated, police stressed that the synagogue fire was still being investigated by counter-terrorism detectives as an attack on the Jewish community, though they had not found evidence of a foreign state actor or terror group's involvement.
In never-before-seen CCTV footage of the synagogue attack released Thursday, three hooded figures in masks jump out of a blue Volkswagen Golf and then ferry red jerry cans back and forth between the hatchback and the synagogue. They use an axe to smash open the doors, throwing the accelerant inside.
One man behind a white mask films it all on his mobile phone. Then a huge fireball erupts, and the figures dash back to the car, driving away towards Melbourne's west.
Detectives from a joint counter-terrorism taskforce – including members from Victoria Police, the AFP and ASIO – combed through CCTV footage from more than 1400 locations to track the synagogue arsonists' movements. They believe the jerry cans used were bought from a Bunnings Warehouse and filled with about 100 litres of petrol.
'We believe there are multiple offenders directly and indirectly linked to the synagogue arson,' said Stephen Nutt, the AFP's assistant commissioner for counter-terrorism and special investigations command. 'We suspect some of the individuals involved are extremely violent.'
On the same night as the synagogue arson, the same blue Golf was used in a drive-by shooting and arson attack in Bundoora, in Melbourne's north-east, police say.
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