Synagogue hit with arson attack, diners 'terrorised'
A group of about 20 people had to flee when a man doused the front of the temple in a flammable liquid and set it alight about 8pm on Friday, Victoria Police said.
East Melbourne Synagogue president Danny Segal and his wife Jenny were among those inside enjoying Shabbat dinner at the time.
"Somebody saw smoke coming and some passers-by rang the bell and said there's something going on," he told reporters on Saturday morning.
Everyone inside evacuated safely and firefighters stopped the flames from spreading.
Ms Segal said he was worried about what might have happened had the attacker gotten inside.
He said the incident frightened the children.
"They were pretty scared because they felt our fear and our shock," he said.
Investigators are still working to establish the motivation and circumstances surrounding the fire.
"There is absolutely no place in our society for anti-Semitic or hate-based behaviour," a police spokesperson said.
The synagogue, one of Australia's oldest, is close to Victoria's parliament in the heart of the city.
The suspect was last seen fleeing down Albert Street towards the CBD.
A short time later, protesters gathered outside Israeli restaurant Miznon on nearby Hardware Lane.
Police said about 20 of them shouted "offensive chants" and were directed to leave the area.
Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin said anti-Semitic terror had returned as a mob chanted "death to the IDF", which stands for Israel Defence Forces.
"These events are a severe escalation directed towards our community and clear evidence that the anti-Semitism crisis is not only continuing but getting worse," Mr Ryvchin said.
Anti-Defamation Commission chair Dvir Abramovich said the diners were terrorised.
"Melbourne, for one night, stopped being a safe place for Jews," he said.
One person was arrested for hindering police and several others were spoken to by investigators.
The force said it supported the right of Victorians to protest peacefully but would not tolerate "anti-social and violent behaviour".
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said that the attack happened on Shabbat made it more abhorrent.
"This is disgraceful behaviour by a pack of cowards," she said.
Opposition frontbencher David Southwick called for greater action to stop people filled with hate who "hijack our streets".
"Enough talk. The perpetrators and organisers must be found and brought to justice," he said.
Melbourne Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece visited the synagogue and spoke with senior members on Saturday morning.
He condemned the events and said Melbourne was a city of peace and tolerance despite the terrible events.
"Nothing that we are doing here in Melbourne is going to have any impact on the terrible events in Israel and Gaza and so we do need to ask ourselves, how do we keep ourselves together as a community?" he said.
The incidents come seven months after a devastating fire at the Adass Israel Synagogue at Ripponlea, in the city's south.
Two of the synagogue's three buildings were destroyed in the early morning blaze, which also forced members of the congregation to flee.
No charges have been laid, although counter-terrorism police have raided multiple properties as part of that investigation.
The latest attacks also follow disagreement between Australia's special envoy to combat anti-Semitism and NSW MPs over a call to ban pro-Palestine protests from city centres.
Jillian Segal gave evidence to a parliamentary inquiry examining anti-Semitism in Sydney on Friday and was pressed on her previous statements labelling the weekly demonstrations "intimidatory" and "sinister".
Labor MP Stephen Lawrence suggested her comments were an "uncivil way to describe them and the people participating".
Children and their families were among those forced to evacuate a synagogue targeted by arsonists, just as protesters descended on a nearby Israeli restaurant shouting "offensive chants".
A group of about 20 people had to flee when a man doused the front of the temple in a flammable liquid and set it alight about 8pm on Friday, Victoria Police said.
East Melbourne Synagogue president Danny Segal and his wife Jenny were among those inside enjoying Shabbat dinner at the time.
"Somebody saw smoke coming and some passers-by rang the bell and said there's something going on," he told reporters on Saturday morning.
Everyone inside evacuated safely and firefighters stopped the flames from spreading.
Ms Segal said he was worried about what might have happened had the attacker gotten inside.
He said the incident frightened the children.
"They were pretty scared because they felt our fear and our shock," he said.
Investigators are still working to establish the motivation and circumstances surrounding the fire.
"There is absolutely no place in our society for anti-Semitic or hate-based behaviour," a police spokesperson said.
The synagogue, one of Australia's oldest, is close to Victoria's parliament in the heart of the city.
The suspect was last seen fleeing down Albert Street towards the CBD.
A short time later, protesters gathered outside Israeli restaurant Miznon on nearby Hardware Lane.
Police said about 20 of them shouted "offensive chants" and were directed to leave the area.
Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin said anti-Semitic terror had returned as a mob chanted "death to the IDF", which stands for Israel Defence Forces.
"These events are a severe escalation directed towards our community and clear evidence that the anti-Semitism crisis is not only continuing but getting worse," Mr Ryvchin said.
Anti-Defamation Commission chair Dvir Abramovich said the diners were terrorised.
"Melbourne, for one night, stopped being a safe place for Jews," he said.
One person was arrested for hindering police and several others were spoken to by investigators.
The force said it supported the right of Victorians to protest peacefully but would not tolerate "anti-social and violent behaviour".
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said that the attack happened on Shabbat made it more abhorrent.
"This is disgraceful behaviour by a pack of cowards," she said.
Opposition frontbencher David Southwick called for greater action to stop people filled with hate who "hijack our streets".
"Enough talk. The perpetrators and organisers must be found and brought to justice," he said.
Melbourne Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece visited the synagogue and spoke with senior members on Saturday morning.
He condemned the events and said Melbourne was a city of peace and tolerance despite the terrible events.
"Nothing that we are doing here in Melbourne is going to have any impact on the terrible events in Israel and Gaza and so we do need to ask ourselves, how do we keep ourselves together as a community?" he said.
The incidents come seven months after a devastating fire at the Adass Israel Synagogue at Ripponlea, in the city's south.
Two of the synagogue's three buildings were destroyed in the early morning blaze, which also forced members of the congregation to flee.
No charges have been laid, although counter-terrorism police have raided multiple properties as part of that investigation.
The latest attacks also follow disagreement between Australia's special envoy to combat anti-Semitism and NSW MPs over a call to ban pro-Palestine protests from city centres.
Jillian Segal gave evidence to a parliamentary inquiry examining anti-Semitism in Sydney on Friday and was pressed on her previous statements labelling the weekly demonstrations "intimidatory" and "sinister".
Labor MP Stephen Lawrence suggested her comments were an "uncivil way to describe them and the people participating".
Children and their families were among those forced to evacuate a synagogue targeted by arsonists, just as protesters descended on a nearby Israeli restaurant shouting "offensive chants".
A group of about 20 people had to flee when a man doused the front of the temple in a flammable liquid and set it alight about 8pm on Friday, Victoria Police said.
East Melbourne Synagogue president Danny Segal and his wife Jenny were among those inside enjoying Shabbat dinner at the time.
"Somebody saw smoke coming and some passers-by rang the bell and said there's something going on," he told reporters on Saturday morning.
Everyone inside evacuated safely and firefighters stopped the flames from spreading.
Ms Segal said he was worried about what might have happened had the attacker gotten inside.
He said the incident frightened the children.
"They were pretty scared because they felt our fear and our shock," he said.
Investigators are still working to establish the motivation and circumstances surrounding the fire.
"There is absolutely no place in our society for anti-Semitic or hate-based behaviour," a police spokesperson said.
The synagogue, one of Australia's oldest, is close to Victoria's parliament in the heart of the city.
The suspect was last seen fleeing down Albert Street towards the CBD.
A short time later, protesters gathered outside Israeli restaurant Miznon on nearby Hardware Lane.
Police said about 20 of them shouted "offensive chants" and were directed to leave the area.
Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin said anti-Semitic terror had returned as a mob chanted "death to the IDF", which stands for Israel Defence Forces.
"These events are a severe escalation directed towards our community and clear evidence that the anti-Semitism crisis is not only continuing but getting worse," Mr Ryvchin said.
Anti-Defamation Commission chair Dvir Abramovich said the diners were terrorised.
"Melbourne, for one night, stopped being a safe place for Jews," he said.
One person was arrested for hindering police and several others were spoken to by investigators.
The force said it supported the right of Victorians to protest peacefully but would not tolerate "anti-social and violent behaviour".
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said that the attack happened on Shabbat made it more abhorrent.
"This is disgraceful behaviour by a pack of cowards," she said.
Opposition frontbencher David Southwick called for greater action to stop people filled with hate who "hijack our streets".
"Enough talk. The perpetrators and organisers must be found and brought to justice," he said.
Melbourne Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece visited the synagogue and spoke with senior members on Saturday morning.
He condemned the events and said Melbourne was a city of peace and tolerance despite the terrible events.
"Nothing that we are doing here in Melbourne is going to have any impact on the terrible events in Israel and Gaza and so we do need to ask ourselves, how do we keep ourselves together as a community?" he said.
The incidents come seven months after a devastating fire at the Adass Israel Synagogue at Ripponlea, in the city's south.
Two of the synagogue's three buildings were destroyed in the early morning blaze, which also forced members of the congregation to flee.
No charges have been laid, although counter-terrorism police have raided multiple properties as part of that investigation.
The latest attacks also follow disagreement between Australia's special envoy to combat anti-Semitism and NSW MPs over a call to ban pro-Palestine protests from city centres.
Jillian Segal gave evidence to a parliamentary inquiry examining anti-Semitism in Sydney on Friday and was pressed on her previous statements labelling the weekly demonstrations "intimidatory" and "sinister".
Labor MP Stephen Lawrence suggested her comments were an "uncivil way to describe them and the people participating".
Children and their families were among those forced to evacuate a synagogue targeted by arsonists, just as protesters descended on a nearby Israeli restaurant shouting "offensive chants".
A group of about 20 people had to flee when a man doused the front of the temple in a flammable liquid and set it alight about 8pm on Friday, Victoria Police said.
East Melbourne Synagogue president Danny Segal and his wife Jenny were among those inside enjoying Shabbat dinner at the time.
"Somebody saw smoke coming and some passers-by rang the bell and said there's something going on," he told reporters on Saturday morning.
Everyone inside evacuated safely and firefighters stopped the flames from spreading.
Ms Segal said he was worried about what might have happened had the attacker gotten inside.
He said the incident frightened the children.
"They were pretty scared because they felt our fear and our shock," he said.
Investigators are still working to establish the motivation and circumstances surrounding the fire.
"There is absolutely no place in our society for anti-Semitic or hate-based behaviour," a police spokesperson said.
The synagogue, one of Australia's oldest, is close to Victoria's parliament in the heart of the city.
The suspect was last seen fleeing down Albert Street towards the CBD.
A short time later, protesters gathered outside Israeli restaurant Miznon on nearby Hardware Lane.
Police said about 20 of them shouted "offensive chants" and were directed to leave the area.
Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin said anti-Semitic terror had returned as a mob chanted "death to the IDF", which stands for Israel Defence Forces.
"These events are a severe escalation directed towards our community and clear evidence that the anti-Semitism crisis is not only continuing but getting worse," Mr Ryvchin said.
Anti-Defamation Commission chair Dvir Abramovich said the diners were terrorised.
"Melbourne, for one night, stopped being a safe place for Jews," he said.
One person was arrested for hindering police and several others were spoken to by investigators.
The force said it supported the right of Victorians to protest peacefully but would not tolerate "anti-social and violent behaviour".
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said that the attack happened on Shabbat made it more abhorrent.
"This is disgraceful behaviour by a pack of cowards," she said.
Opposition frontbencher David Southwick called for greater action to stop people filled with hate who "hijack our streets".
"Enough talk. The perpetrators and organisers must be found and brought to justice," he said.
Melbourne Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece visited the synagogue and spoke with senior members on Saturday morning.
He condemned the events and said Melbourne was a city of peace and tolerance despite the terrible events.
"Nothing that we are doing here in Melbourne is going to have any impact on the terrible events in Israel and Gaza and so we do need to ask ourselves, how do we keep ourselves together as a community?" he said.
The incidents come seven months after a devastating fire at the Adass Israel Synagogue at Ripponlea, in the city's south.
Two of the synagogue's three buildings were destroyed in the early morning blaze, which also forced members of the congregation to flee.
No charges have been laid, although counter-terrorism police have raided multiple properties as part of that investigation.
The latest attacks also follow disagreement between Australia's special envoy to combat anti-Semitism and NSW MPs over a call to ban pro-Palestine protests from city centres.
Jillian Segal gave evidence to a parliamentary inquiry examining anti-Semitism in Sydney on Friday and was pressed on her previous statements labelling the weekly demonstrations "intimidatory" and "sinister".
Labor MP Stephen Lawrence suggested her comments were an "uncivil way to describe them and the people participating".
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A NSW man has been charged over an alleged arson attack on an East Melbourne synagogue
A man has been charged over the alleged arson attack on an East Melbourne Synagogue on Friday night. Detectives from Victoria Police's Counter Terrorism Security Investigation Unit arrested the 34-year-old NSW man on Saturday evening. "It is alleged the man was seen walking through Parliament Gardens before entering the grounds of the synagogue on Albert Street on 4 July about 8pm," Victoria Police said in a statement. The man allegedly poured a flammable liquid on the front door of the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation building and set it on fire before fleeing the scene on foot in a westerly direction along Albert Street. About 20 people were inside the synagogue enjoying Shabbat dinner at the time of the attack, but they were safely evacuated out the back of the building. Firefighters extinguished the fire, which was contained to the front entrance. The 34-year-old man from Toongabbie, NSW, was arrested in Melbourne's CBD at about 8.15pm on Saturday night. He was interviewed by detectives and charged with reckless conduct endanger life, reckless conduct endanger serious injury, criminal damage by fire, and possess a controlled weapon. The man will appear before the Bail and Remand Court today. Victoria Police have not declared the attack a terrorist incident, but detectives are continuing to examine the intent and ideology of the person charged. Detectives are yet to establish any links to two additional incidents on Friday night; a public order incident in Melbourne's Hardware Lane and an arson attack and criminal damage to a business on Para Road, Greensborough, but will continue to make enquiries to determine any potential links. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has described the incident as a "shocking" act that has "no place in Australia". '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," the prime minister said.
Sky News AU
an hour ago
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Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke condemns suspected arson attack, visits Melbourne synagogue
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke will visit the Melbourne synagogue targeted in a suspected arson attack. Mr Burke will attend the site on Sunday after a man allegedly attempted to set the building on fire with people inside on Friday night. In a joint statement, Mr Burke and Multicultural Affairs Minister Anne Aly expressed horror over the suspected attack, which saw a man allegedly set fire to the entrance of the East Melbourne Synagogue. There were approximately 20 people, including children, inside the synagogue at the time of the incident taking part in Shabbat. Detectives from the Counter Terrorism Security Investigation Unit have since charged a 34-year-old Toongabbie man. 'I condemn last night's disgusting attack in the strongest possible terms. Australians have a right to feel safe and protected from violence and bigotry,' Mr Burke said. 'I was briefed by the acting head of ASIO and the Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police, as well as the Victorian Minister for Police Anthony Carbines,. 'I've also spoken to the Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism, Jillian Segal, and the Secretary of the Department of Home Affairs, Stephanie Foster.' Ms Aly said the government 'condemns these kinds of violent acts of hatred' as she reiterated support for the Jewish community. 'All Australians have a right to safety. Acts of antisemitism violate that right and should face the full force of the law,' she said. 'The government will continue to work with the special envoy on measures to prevent these vile and cowardly attacks.' Police have alleged that an unknown man entered the grounds of the Albert Street synagogue about 8pm on Friday night. The man poured a flammable liquid over the front entrance, setting it alight before fleeing on foot in a westerly direction. No one was injured in the incident, and the fire – attended to by emergency services – was contained to the front door. Victoria Police confirmed the investigation was ongoing and said they are 'engaging with people from the synagogue'. 'There is absolutely no place in our society for antisemitic or hate-based behaviour,' police said. Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin told Sky News the attack marked 'a return to the antisemitic terror of the summer months'. 'These events are a severe escalation directed towards our community and clear evidence that the antisemitism crisis is not only continuing, but getting worse,' he said. 'We urge all sides of politics and all Australians to condemn these deplorable crimes… Those responsible cannot be reasoned with or appeased. 'They must be confronted with the full force of the law.' The federal opposition has also condemned the attack and called on the government to step up efforts to prevent antisemitism. 'Our Jewish community lives under an increasing threat and we have not seen sufficient action or urgency from the Albanese government,' opposition leader Sussan Ley said. 'The Coalition wrote to the Prime Minister on 15 June calling for strengthened security protections for Jewish communities. 'We have not received any response and we have not seen the strong action we need. The opposition calls on the Prime Minister to take stronger action. 'We will not step back from criticising this clear failure from a Prime Minister who has gone missing when these Australians need him.' Mr Burke said the government had earlier introduced 'tough new measures to punish anyone convicted of carrying out violent crimes motivated by bigotry'. The synagogue involved, also known as the Melbourne Hebrew Congregation, is one of the oldest in Australia, with a rich history dating back to 1841. Police have appealed for information as they search for the alleged offender.
ABC News
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Man charged over Melbourne synagogue fire amid calls for parliament to reconvene to pass new protest laws
A man has been charged after the doors of a Melbourne synagogue were set on fire on Friday night. Detectives from the Counter Terrorism Security Investigation Unit arrested the 34-year-old man, from the Sydney suburb of Toongabbie, in Melbourne's CBD about 8:15pm on Saturday. It is alleged a man was seen walking through Parliament Gardens before entering the grounds of the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation synagogue on Albert Street, pouring a flammable liquid on the front door and setting it alight. There were about 20 people inside the synagogue at the time, taking part in Shabbat. They fled through a rear door uninjured. The NSW man has been charged with reckless conduct endangering life, reckless conduct endangering serious injury, criminal damage by fire, and possessing a controlled weapon. He will appear before a bail and remand Court today. 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"That has the backing of the Jewish community and that will make sure that hate speech and those who think they can get away with it are further held to account." He said Operation Park, which was established in late 2023 in response to an increase in hate crimes and to investigate offences associated with the Middle East conflict, had made 138 arrests "There's no doubt there are people in the community who seek to divide, who think the law doesn't apply to them and who think they can target communities and threaten them." Federal Shadow Attorney-General Julian Lesser said the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and France had increased safety measures for their Jewish communities since tensions escalated in the Middle East. "That prompted [federal Opposition Leader] Sussan Ley, [Shadow Home Affairs Minister] Andrew Hastie and myself three weeks ago to write to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese calling on him to take similar measures," Mr Lesser said. "Prime Minister Albanese has never written back to us and we're calling on him to explain what measures he has taken to protect the Jewish community, and if he didn't take increased measures, why?" Mr Albanese condemned the weekend incidents. "It is completely unacceptable the attack that occurred at a restaurant in Melbourne, and also the attack on a business in the outer suburbs of Melbourne," Mr Albanese said. "The fact that people were having a peaceful dinner and were disrupted by this act of violence could have had catastrophic consequences."
