Shock footage shows anti-Semitic arson
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has pulled together the taskforce after a synagogue was firebombed, a Jewish-owned restaurant was stormed while people ate inside, and another business was vandalised; all across this past weekend.
Ms Allan made a private visit to the targeted synagogue on Monday, and revealed the state government gave the shule $80,000 for increased security last year.
The Premier has tapped the Police Minister, Lord Mayor and police executives for the 'anti-hate' taskforce, Ms Allan's office says. Invitations will go out to representatives of Melbourne's Jewish community. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan condemned the attacks. NewsWire / Nadir Kinani Credit: News Corp Australia The front door of the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation was set on fire on Friday night. NewsWire / Valeriu Campan Credit: News Corp Australia
Speaking outside the synagogue on Monday, Ms Allan said Jewish Victorians were an important part of the community.
'I'll continue to stand with a strong, proud Jewish community here in Victoria every single day.
'They are a big, important part of our community. They demand our support at this most difficult time.
'They demand our action, which is why, alongside strengthening laws and the response of Victoria Police, we will continue to work to build a stronger place where everyone can be who they are and practise their faith safe and free from hate.'
In a statement released soon after, Ms Allan detailed the taskforce's first steps.
She will request details on how Victoria Police plans to 'operationalise the criminal components' of the new Anti-Vilification and Social Cohesion Act.
Ms Allan has also requested an update from the Local Escalation and Help (LEAH) group, which was set up to support the Jewish community at a local level.
The taskforce members will also learn how community consultation and development of legislation is progressing, in a push for increased police powers to stamp out extreme and violent protest.
At the synagogue on Monday, Ms Allan said she pledged to the Rabbi that the government would fund mental health support for the people inside during the fire, particularly the children.
Ms Allan also revealed the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation received $80,000 from the government for security upgrades in December. 'Free Palestine' was graffitied onto the wall of a restaurant in the Melbourne CBD. NewsWire / Nadir Kinani Credit: News Corp Australia Police spoke to the owners of the popular restaurant. NewsWire / Nadir Kinani Credit: News Corp Australia
'Places of worship like this synagogue are a part of our fabric as a society,' Ms Allan said.
'We will protect them with everything we've got.'
Federal Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said she and shadow Attorney-General Julian Leeser would travel to the east Melbourne Synagogue on Tuesday.
'Julian Leeser and I will be traveling tomorrow to the east Melbourne synagogue with other Victorian colleagues to meet the Jewish community there and to hear directly from them about the awful, hideous events over the weekend, and to reassure them of our ongoing support, our care and our commitment,' she said.
The first of this weekend's three incidents happened at the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation at 8pm on Friday as about 20 adults and children worshipped inside.
Angelo Loras, 34, from NSW, allegedly poured accelerant on the front door and set fire to the synagogue. Nobody inside was physically injured. Mr Loras was arrested about 24 hours later and has been charged with recklessly endangering life.
Police are still assessing whether the incident constituted an act of terrorism.
In a separate incident in the CBD on Friday night, an Israeli-owned restaurant was targeted. As people ate, a group of people who had split off from an anti-police violence protest harassed and intimidated diners. This incident happened on busy Hardware Lane. Cars were set alight and vandalised at the business in Melbourne's northeast early on Saturday morning. Supplied Credit: Supplied One of the three cars targeted by arsonists was destroyed. Supplied Credit: Supplied
A 28-year-old from Footscray was arrested for hindering police and released on summons.
Police have now released footage of a third incident, this too believed to have anti-Israeli motivations.
This act of vandalism happened at a business in the northeast suburb of Greensborough about 4am on Saturday.
Police say five people entered the property on Para Rd and set fire to three cars. One of the cars was destroyed.
'The group also used red spray paint to write various slogans on the cars and on a building wall,' a police spokesperson said.
Police released footage of the attack early on Monday. It shows masked people setting two cars on fire, while another person spray paints one of the cars.
'While investigators continue to liaise with Counter Terrorism Command to establish if there are any connections to the arson on the synagogue in East Melbourne and a public order incident on Hardware Lane, at this time no links have been identified,' a police spokesperson said.
'There is absolutely no place at all in our society for anti-Semitic behaviour.'
Police say this group took off on e-bikes in a south-westerly direction along Plenty River. All were wearing black hoodies, with backpacks and gloves.
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