Latest news with #antisemitic
The Independent
2 days ago
- The Independent
Police arrest suspect in Melbourne synagogue attack as international criminal links probed
Australian police have made a significant arrest in connection with an arson attack on a Melbourne synagogue, an incident that marked a major escalation in antisemitic violence across the nation. A 21-year-old Melbourne man was apprehended at a house on Wednesday, suspected of setting fire to the Adass Israel Synagogue last December. The predawn blaze completely destroyed the place of worship and left one congregant with minor burns. Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Wendy Steendam confirmed the arrest, which represents a crucial breakthrough for the Victorian Joint Counter-Terrorism Team. Investigators are treating the devastating attack as politically motivated. The team involves Victoria state and federal police as well as Australia 's main domestic spy agency. More than 220 law enforcement officers have devoted more than 50,000 hours to the investigation. The suspect, who has not been named, was being questioned on Wednesday about offenses including arson, conduct endangering life and car theft, Steendam said. An arson conviction carries a potential maximum of 15 years in prison, while the other two offenses are each punishable by 10 years imprisonment. The suspect has yet to be charged. 'This investigation remains ongoing and we anticipate there'll be further arrests,' Steendam told reporters. 'I want to reassure Victorians, particularly those in the Jewish community, that we remain relentless in our pursuit in finding all those responsible for this crime and holding them to account,' she added. Police suspect offshore criminals had worked with associates in Victoria to orchestrate the attack, Australian Federal Police Deputy Commissioner Krissy Barrett said. 'The motivation is still being assessed,' Barrett said. 'We are … working closely with our Five Eyes partners and international partners to ensure our collective powers and capabilities are drawn upon to help bring those responsible to justice,' she added. Five Eyes is an intelligence-sharing partnership that includes Australia, the United States, Britain, Canada and New Zealand. Barrett declined to say who the offshore suspects were or identify the countries they were operating in. Two weeks ago, a 20-year-old man was charged with stealing the car used in the synagogue attack. But that suspect has not been accused of being one of the masked men who used brooms to spread a liquid accelerant across the floor of the synagogue before igniting it. A wave of antisemitic attacks has roiled Australia since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas assault on Israel triggered the war in Gaza. The synagogue attack is the only incident that has been classified as an act of terrorism, a designation that increases the resources available to the investigation. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke welcomed the arrest in connection with what he described as a 'hate crime.' Burke noted that his government had promised 30 million Australian dollars ($20 million) to rebuild the synagogue. 'This arrest cannot undo the pain and fear that it (arson) caused, but it does send the strongest message that this kind of hate and violence has no place in Australia,' Burke told Parliament. 'This attack was not simply an attack on Jewish Australians An attack on a synagogue is an attack on Australia and is treated as such,' he added. Daniel Aghion, president of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, the main advocate for the nation's Jewish community, hoped more arrests would be made and that the masterminds of the crime would be quickly brought to justice. 'Only then will a deterrent be established against this sort of chilling behavior,' Aghion said.
The Independent
2 days ago
- The Independent
Police arrest suspect in Melbourne synagogue arson attack
Australian police say they have arrested one of three men they suspect are responsible for an arson attack on a Melbourne synagogue that marked a major escalation in antisemitic violence across the nation. A 21-year-old Melbourne man was arrested at a house on Wednesday on suspicion that he had set fire to the Adass Israel Synagogue in December, Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Wendy Steendam said. The predawn attack destroyed the synagogue and left a worshipper with minor burns. The arrest is a major breakthrough for investigators in the Victorian Joint Counter-Terrorism Team that is treating the attack as politically motivated. The team involves Victoria state and federal police as well as Australia's main domestic spy agency. More than 220 law enforcement officers have devoted more than 50,000 hours to the investigation. The suspect, who has not been named, was being questioned on Wednesday about offenses including arson, conduct endangering life and car theft, Steendam said. An arson conviction carries a potential maximum of 15 years in prison, while the other two offenses are each punishable by 10 years imprisonment. The suspect has yet to be charged. 'This investigation remains ongoing and we anticipate there'll be further arrests,' Steendam told reporters. 'I want to reassure Victorians, particularly those in the Jewish community, that we remain relentless in our pursuit in finding all those responsible for this crime and holding them to account,' she added. Police suspect international criminal links Police suspect offshore criminals had worked with associates in Victoria to orchestrate the attack, Australian Federal Police Deputy Commissioner Krissy Barrett said. 'The motivation is still being assessed,' Barrett said. 'We are … working closely with our Five Eyes partners and international partners to ensure our collective powers and capabilities are drawn upon to help bring those responsible to justice,' she added. Five Eyes is an intelligence-sharing partnership that includes Australia, the United States, Britain, Canada and New Zealand. Barrett declined to say who the offshore suspects were or identify the countries they were operating in. Two weeks ago, a 20-year-old man was charged with stealing the car used in the synagogue attack. But that suspect has not been accused of being one of the masked men who used brooms to spread a liquid accelerant across the floor of the synagogue before igniting it. A wave of antisemitic attacks has roiled Australia since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas assault on Israel triggered the war in Gaza. The synagogue attack is the only incident that has been classified as an act of terrorism, a designation that increases the resources available to the investigation. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke welcomed the arrest in connection with what he described as a 'hate crime.' Burke noted that his government had promised 30 million Australian dollars ($20 million) to rebuild the synagogue. 'This arrest cannot undo the pain and fear that it (arson) caused, but it does send the strongest message that this kind of hate and violence has no place in Australia,' Burke told Parliament. 'This attack was not simply an attack on Jewish Australians An attack on a synagogue is an attack on Australia and is treated as such,' he added. Daniel Aghion, president of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, the main advocate for the nation's Jewish community, hoped more arrests would be made and that the masterminds of the crime would be quickly brought to justice. 'Only then will a deterrent be established against this sort of chilling behavior,' Aghion said.
Washington Post
2 days ago
- Washington Post
Police arrest suspect in Melbourne synagogue arson attack
MELBOURNE, Australia — Australian police say they have arrested one of three men they suspect are responsible for an arson attack on a Melbourne synagogue that marked a major escalation in antisemitic violence across the nation. A 21-year-old Melbourne man was arrested at a house on Wednesday on suspicion that he had set fire to the Adass Israel Synagogue in December, Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Wendy Steendam said. The predawn attack destroyed the synagogue and left a worshipper with minor burns.
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Associated Press
Police arrest suspect in Melbourne synagogue arson attack
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Australian police say they have arrested one of three men they suspect are responsible for an arson attack on a Melbourne synagogue that marked a major escalation in antisemitic violence across the nation. A 21-year-old Melbourne man was arrested at a house on Wednesday on suspicion that he had set fire to the Adass Israel Synagogue in December, Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Wendy Steendam said. The predawn attack destroyed the synagogue and left a worshipper with minor burns. The arrest is a major breakthrough for investigators in the Victorian Joint Counter-Terrorism Team that is treating the attack as politically motivated. The team involves Victoria state and federal police as well as Australia's main domestic spy agency. More than 220 law enforcement officers have devoted more than 50,000 hours to the investigation. The suspect, who has not been named, was being questioned on Wednesday about offenses including arson, conduct endangering life and car theft, Steendam said. An arson conviction carries a potential maximum of 15 years in prison, while the other two offenses are each punishable by 10 years imprisonment. The suspect has yet to be charged. 'This investigation remains ongoing and we anticipate there'll be further arrests,' Steendam told reporters. 'I want to reassure Victorians, particularly those in the Jewish community, that we remain relentless in our pursuit in finding all those responsible for this crime and holding them to account,' she added. Police suspect international criminal links Police suspect offshore criminals had worked with associates in Victoria to orchestrate the attack, Australian Federal Police Deputy Commissioner Krissy Barrett said. 'The motivation is still being assessed,' Barrett said. 'We are … working closely with our Five Eyes partners and international partners to ensure our collective powers and capabilities are drawn upon to help bring those responsible to justice,' she added. Five Eyes is an intelligence-sharing partnership that includes Australia, the United States, Britain, Canada and New Zealand. Barrett declined to say who the offshore suspects were or identify the countries they were operating in. Two weeks ago, a 20-year-old man was charged with stealing the car used in the synagogue attack. But that suspect has not been accused of being one of the masked men who used brooms to spread a liquid accelerant across the floor of the synagogue before igniting it. A wave of antisemitic attacks has roiled Australia since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas assault on Israel triggered the war in Gaza. The synagogue attack is the only incident that has been classified as an act of terrorism, a designation that increases the resources available to the investigation. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke welcomed the arrest in connection with what he described as a 'hate crime.' Burke noted that his government had promised 30 million Australian dollars ($20 million) to rebuild the synagogue. 'This arrest cannot undo the pain and fear that it (arson) caused, but it does send the strongest message that this kind of hate and violence has no place in Australia,' Burke told Parliament. 'This attack was not simply an attack on Jewish Australians An attack on a synagogue is an attack on Australia and is treated as such,' he added. Daniel Aghion, president of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, the main advocate for the nation's Jewish community, hoped more arrests would be made and that the masterminds of the crime would be quickly brought to justice. 'Only then will a deterrent be established against this sort of chilling behavior,' Aghion said.
National Post
2 days ago
- Politics
- National Post
Canadian poll suggests social media 'normalizing prejudice'
The poll found that 39 per cent of Canadians between 18 and 24 heard an antisemitic remark and 46 per cent reported hearing an Islamophobic comment since Hamas's invasion of Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Photo by Getty Images A new poll has found young Canadians are the most likely to have heard antisemitic and Islamophobic comments, and one researcher suggests social media may risk 'normalizing prejudice.' THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS Enjoy the latest local, national and international news. Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events. Unlimited online access to National Post. National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE ARTICLES Enjoy the latest local, national and international news. Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events. Unlimited online access to National Post. National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors The Leger survey, which was conducted for the Association for Canadian Studies, found that over a third (39 per cent) of Canadians between 18 and 24 heard an antisemitic remark and nearly half (46 per cent) reported hearing an Islamophobic comment since Hamas's invasion of Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Jack Jedwab, the association's chief executive, told National Post in an email that the high exposure of young Canadians to antisemitism and Islamophobia 'was the biggest surprise' for him when reviewing the data. He said the data suggests social media played a role in exposing young Canadians to such rhetoric. Columnist Jesse Kline keeps you up to date with what's happening in Israel and the effects of antisemitism on life here in Canada. Friday mornings. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again The poll found a 'big spike' in antisemitism, with a marked convergence of exposure rates to antisemitism and Islamophobia for all Canadians, Jedwab said. 'If you look back at surveys prior to October 2023, Canadians were far more likely to say they were far more exposed to prejudice directed towards Muslims than they were to other groups, including Jews,' he wrote. 'The fact that exposure is now relatively similar testifies to a big spike in exposure to antisemitism.' (Only about one per cent of Canada's population is Jewish, while 4.9 per cent identified as Muslim, as of 2021.) Increased exposure to intolerant views, 'risks normalizing prejudice,' Jedwab said. It is 'something that badly needs to be addressed.' He pointed to a recent report showing alarming levels of Jew hatred in Ontario public schools as an urgent call to action. 'It needs to be stated very clearly by persons in positions of authority that it is not acceptable to stigmatize individuals wearing a Star of David or a hijab. Regrettably, there is too much equivocation on this and other manifestations of prejudice.' The poll found that a respondent's perception of hearing a discriminatory comment heavily shaped how they viewed media coverage of the Hamas-Israel war. Among those who heard antisemitic comments only, over a third (35.5 per cent) thought mainstream media was more favourable to the Palestinians, while roughly a quarter (25.1 per cent) believed Israel was portrayed better. Conversely, respondents who said they heard only Islamophobic comments thought Israel received better media coverage (35.8 per cent), while over a quarter (27 per cent) saw the Palestinians getting more sympathetic coverage. Rates of exposure to antisemitic and Islamophobic comments decreased significantly with older respondents. Less than a quarter (23 per cent) of Canadians aged 35 to 44 reported hearing an antisemitic remark, and just 14 per cent of those 65 and over said they heard such comments publicly.
