Adass Israel Synagogue firebombing charge laid against 20yo man
The 20-year-old was arrested on Wednesday in Williamstown and charged with stealing a blue VW Golf that was used in the attack on the Adass Israel Synagogue.
The operation was undertaken by the Victorian Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT), which includes officers from Victoria Police, the Australian Federal Police, and ASIO.
The taskforce previously said the attack was likely politically motivated.
The man allegedly stole the 'communal crime car' used in the firebombing. Picture: NewsWire Handout/ Vic Police
That is still the position of the JCTT and the investigation is still into alleged terrorism.
The man was not charged for the actual arson attack, and no one has been charged for that offence yet.
The investigation is ongoing into the Adass Israel Synagogue fire, which police said was a significant priority for them with 'significant resources across all agencies' being used.
Following the arrest of the 20-year-old man, police seized items at a Melton South home that will be further investigated.
The 20-year-old was arrested in Williamstown. Picture: NewsWire Handout/ Vic Police
The man was granted strict conditional bail to appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday, October 3, 2025.
Police allege the man stole the car in Melton on November 29, 2024, after which it was used in a series of arson attacks, including at the Lux Nightclub in South Yarra and an arson and shooting attack in Bundoora.
Police previously alleged that it was a 'communal crime car'.
Victoria Police do not consider the Lux and Bundoora fires to be politically motivated.
The synagogue attack shattered the local community who started a crowd-funding campaign to help rebuild it.
The government has committed $30m to the restoration of the Ripponlea building and funded increased security upgrades.
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
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