Charges over East Melbourne synagogue fire
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.
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The Age
3 days ago
- The Age
‘Now we can all exhale': Synagogue replaces darkness of hate with light
Gutnick reflected on miracles as he addressed the service, and how the flammable carpet and door were spared the worst damage even as accelerant leaked under the door. He wondered if it was just luck that when the attack happened the fire station was metres away, that the restaurant nearby used its ice buckets to help douse the flames and that a good Samaritan rushed to stamp out the fire with their feet. To his mind, the only way the flames could have been tamed so quickly was that the spirits from 150 years of congregations had all exhaled at once, blowing out the fire before it could harm those inside. 'How else can you explain it?' he told the service. Whatever happened, the rabbi said, the fact that they were all alive and together as a community 'would stay with him forever'. Loading Gutnick also said he'd never forget missing a call from the prime minister and received a voicemail detailing his shock over the attack. After a few in the crowd applauded, he clarified that he'd immediately called Anthony Albanese back and was 'not making a political point'. Extra security was provided at the venue, with guards stationed at the doors and two police cars within metres. But in acknowledgment of what has been a difficult week for the synagogue, Gutnick urged those in attendance not to linger out the front for their own safety. Victoria Police confirmed counterterrorism command was leading the investigation into last Friday night's alleged arson attack, but it had not been declared an act of terrorism. A western Sydney man from the suburb of Toongabbie has been charged with reckless conduct endangering life, reckless conduct endangering serious injury, criminal damage by fire, and possession of a controlled weapon. About 20 people, including children, were taking part in Shabbat inside the historic Albert Street synagogue when flammable liquid was allegedly poured on the front door of the building, and set alight. Chazan Brett Kaye led Friday night's congregation in prayer, through singing and chanting. By the end of the service, Gutnick joked that he might defect to the St Kilda shul, where Kaye is the cantor. The rabbi sought to highlight the triumph of light over darkness as the theme of his service. True to his request, the service was upbeat as children ran up and down the aisle, the congregation joined loudly in prayer and song and old friends greeted each other. The rabbi's wife, Rachel Gutnick, said the lighting of the candles marked the transition from the weekday to the sacred. 'The space, we believe, is transformed,' she said. 'Now we can all exhale.' She was among those who lit the candles at the East Melbourne Shul on Friday night. As she did so, she covered her eyes while they said a blessing to 'increase our focus'. She said the lighting of the candles took on a special meaning after a difficult week. 'It is all about increasing light, doing things that bring light whether it's spiritual or physical,' she said.
Sydney Morning Herald
3 days ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Now we can all exhale': Synagogue replaces darkness of hate with light
Gutnick reflected on miracles as he addressed the service, and how the flammable carpet and door were spared the worst damage even as accelerant leaked under the door. He wondered if it was just luck that when the attack happened the fire station was metres away, that the restaurant nearby used its ice buckets to help douse the flames and that a good Samaritan rushed to stamp out the fire with their feet. To his mind, the only way the flames could have been tamed so quickly was that the spirits from 150 years of congregations had all exhaled at once, blowing out the fire before it could harm those inside. 'How else can you explain it?' he told the service. Whatever happened, the rabbi said, the fact that they were all alive and together as a community 'would stay with him forever'. Loading Gutnick also said he'd never forget missing a call from the prime minister and received a voicemail detailing his shock over the attack. After a few in the crowd applauded, he clarified that he'd immediately called Anthony Albanese back and was 'not making a political point'. Extra security was provided at the venue, with guards stationed at the doors and two police cars within metres. But in acknowledgment of what has been a difficult week for the synagogue, Gutnick urged those in attendance not to linger out the front for their own safety. Victoria Police confirmed counterterrorism command was leading the investigation into last Friday night's alleged arson attack, but it had not been declared an act of terrorism. A western Sydney man from the suburb of Toongabbie has been charged with reckless conduct endangering life, reckless conduct endangering serious injury, criminal damage by fire, and possession of a controlled weapon. About 20 people, including children, were taking part in Shabbat inside the historic Albert Street synagogue when flammable liquid was allegedly poured on the front door of the building, and set alight. Chazan Brett Kaye led Friday night's congregation in prayer, through singing and chanting. By the end of the service, Gutnick joked that he might defect to the St Kilda shul, where Kaye is the cantor. The rabbi sought to highlight the triumph of light over darkness as the theme of his service. True to his request, the service was upbeat as children ran up and down the aisle, the congregation joined loudly in prayer and song and old friends greeted each other. The rabbi's wife, Rachel Gutnick, said the lighting of the candles marked the transition from the weekday to the sacred. 'The space, we believe, is transformed,' she said. 'Now we can all exhale.' She was among those who lit the candles at the East Melbourne Shul on Friday night. As she did so, she covered her eyes while they said a blessing to 'increase our focus'. She said the lighting of the candles took on a special meaning after a difficult week. 'It is all about increasing light, doing things that bring light whether it's spiritual or physical,' she said.
The Age
3 days ago
- The Age
‘We are losing sight of human beings': Tears, hugs and singing after Miznon clash
'I think one of the most extreme and unfair and horrific injustices of the whole situation … [on] any side of the equation and of the conflict is that we are losing sight of human beings,' he said. 'We are not able to see people in front of us as human beings. They always represent something. They're either with me or against me. They belong to that. They belong to this.' In the days preceding the incident, Miznon had been identified on social media as a target by activists over the links of Israeli co-owner Shahar Segal to controversial Israeli and US-linked charity the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. Talia Sofizade, an Israeli national from the UK, was enjoying a dinner with two other Jewish friends at the restaurant on Friday night when she heard 'All Zionists are terrorists' being shouted over a megaphone. Sofizade said her first response was anger. 'I just saw red. I could see a lot of people scared,' she said, describing being blockaded in the venue during the attack. The entire ordeal lasted about half an hour, but as she and other customers sat trapped, Sofizade said, it felt like forever. 'My friend came and hugged me and I just burst into tears and started shaking.' Sofizade is now back in Israel and said she intended to return to Melbourne to finish her circus arts course in July, but had 'no interest in staying in Australia' and that the incident was her 'tipping point'. 'I feel safer here [in Israel] than I do in Melbourne.' In footage obtained by this masthead of the immediate aftermath of the incident, diners can be seen singing Jewish songs in solidarity as they return to tables to finish their meals. At the Shabbat, Nina Sanadze, a friend of Miznon's owners who arrived after hearing of the incident, described a scene of 'resilience' as candles were lit, songs continued to be sung and challah, a ceremonial Jewish bread, was shared. 'People took a symbolic pinch of challah … we were not in the mood to eat. It was more a thing of tradition and … to stand together,' she said. In his speech, Gal said it was important for him to carry on with the Shabbat, despite what had happened. Loading 'It's a little bit of a demonstration of perseverance that I think is one of the things that's really needed,' he said. 'For me, Miznon is about spreading love and spreading light through food.' In another video taken on the night, Miznon manager Nicole expressed her pride in the restaurant staff. 'They are not just incredible chefs, they are not just really good waitresses … they are family,' she said. '[Former staff] come back to visit … they send friends to work with us. We are really happy working [here].' At the conclusion of Gal's speech, he can be seen lighting two candles and saying a series of blessings to the 'light of the world … the light in human beings and ... the light of justice and peace'. Blessings he said, 'may be more important than ever'. The staff and diners respond with 'Shabbat shalom' – have a peaceful Shabbat.
