Australian police have charged a man in connection with an alleged arson attack on a Melbourne synagogue with worshippers in the building, the latest in a series of incidents targeting the nation's Jewish community.
There were no injuries to the 20 people inside the East Melbourne Synagogue, who fled from the fire on Friday night. Firefighters extinguished the blaze in the capital of Victoria state.
Australia has experienced several antisemitic incidents since the start of the Israel-Gaza war in October 2023.
Counterterrorism detectives late on Saturday arrested the 34-year-old resident of Sydney, capital of neighboring New South Wales, charging him with offenses including criminal damage by fire, police said. The man, whom authorities have not identified, was due to face court on Sunday.
"The man allegedly poured a flammable liquid on the front door of the building and set it on fire before fleeing the scene," police said in a statement.
Authorities are investigating whether the synagogue fire was linked to a disturbance on Friday night at an Israeli restaurant in Melbourne, in which one person was arrested for hindering police.
The restaurant was extensively damaged, according to the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, an umbrella group for Australia's Jews.
It said the fire at the synagogue, one of Melbourne's oldest, was set as those inside sat down to Sabbath dinner.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog went on X to "condemn outright the vile arson attack targeting Jews in Melbourne’s historic and oldest synagogue on the Sabbath, and on an Israeli restaurant where people had come to enjoy a meal together".
"This is not the first such attack in Australia in recent months. But it must be the last," Herzog said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the incidents as "severe hate crimes" that he viewed "with utmost gravity". "The State of Israel will continue to stand alongside the Australian Jewish community," Netanyahu said on X.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese late on Saturday described the alleged arson, which comes seven months after another synagogue in Melbourne was targeted by arsonists, as shocking and said those responsible should face the law's full force.
"My Government will provide all necessary support toward this effort," Albanese posted on X.
Homes, schools, synagogues and vehicles in Australia have been targeted by antisemitic vandalism and arson. The incidents included a fake plan by organized crime to attack a Sydney synagogue using a caravan of explosives in order to divert police resources, police said in March.
© Thomson Reuters 2025.
7 Comments
Peter14
Sounds like Israel may begin targeting Australia now, to try and stop these attacks on Jews. They should know if they do they face a much better armed and trained people than the Palestinians they are destroying in Gaza.
The fastest way to stop these attacks is to stop the invasion and occupation of Gaza and the West Bank.
commanteer
Yes- blame the victims. Doesn't take long for the anti-semites to come out anymore. We are reliving the 1930s. Prepared to be voted down, though that only substantiates what I am saying.
Peter14
Does not take long for the allegations of "anti-semites" to be trundled out when anything critical of the Israeli government is mentioned.
Pukey2
Australia will tow the line. They always do. Before you know it, it'll be as bad as the UK.
GuruMick
Yesterday on this story some posted opined "Hamas supporters " may be responsible.
I said "Nah, more likely some Joe Average Aussie "
Now ,there is no info on the perps background, immigration status, religion.
We should infer then, he was not one of the groups that "trigger " people, and that this story will not attract a hundred posts.
But I say this....keep showing a holocaust perpetuated by jews in Israel on unarmed civilians and some people, Aussies included, will "arc up "
And who cares about being labelled "anti semitic " when the " semites " are committing the worst crimes against humanity since the 1970,s.
Israelis and jews are so quick to claim "poor me " and so slow to admit wrong doing on a criminal scale
GuruMick
Pukey....you seem to forget an Australian Political party had "no more new Mosques " and "No Muslim immigrants " as policy.
Bigots voted for this party and they won seats in Parliament.
I can assure you also that an underlying bigotry against Muslims exists in the various Police departments/officers in Australia, mainly Sydney/ Melbourne, eclipsed only by the underlying racism against Australian aboriginal people......check arrest rates for petty offences.
Only a fool would think there is any special privilege given to Muslims in Australia, beyond that given to other migrant groups........a ton of misinformation around though spouted by shock jocks and their dumb listeners.
But, Netanyahu has weighed into this Australian story telling authorities to "lift their game " in essence.
No irony in that mans conscience is there
And a quick history lesson....white new comers to Australia in the gold rush period of the 1850,s , in Victoria, disliked the work ethic of Chinese gold rush migrants, and would cut off the Chinese "pig tail " worn on the hair.
Lots of historical racism in Australia, not so much anti semiticism
NCIS Reruns
Yeah, remember Arthur Calwell and "Two Wongs don't make a White?"
It's not easy to be antisemitic in a country where its greatest WWI commander (whose face appears on the A$100 banknote) was a Jew.