Australian police have arrested and charged a suspect in connection with an arson attack on a Melbourne synagogue on Friday night, the latest in a series of incidents targeting the country’s Jewish community.
There were 20 people inside the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation at the time, all of whom escaped without injury, according to the police.
"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.
Police arrested the man on Saturday night at about 8:15pm in the coastal city’s central business district, after releasing an image of him earlier in the day from CCTV footage of the attack.
“He was interviewed by detectives and charged with reckless conduct endangering life, reckless conduct endangering serious injury, criminal damage by fire, and possession of a controlled weapon,” police said.
He was scheduled to appear before the bail and remand court on Sunday.
“Detectives will continue to examine the intent and ideology of the person charged to determine if the incident is, in fact, terrorism,” police said.
In a separate incident on Friday, a group of 20 protesters stormed and trashed a popular Israeli restaurant called Miznon on Hardware Street in Melbourne’s CBD.
Witnesses said the group was chanting “Death to the IDF” before arriving at the restaurant, and diners were fearful as the group threw food and chairs at windows and knocked over tables.
Police arrested a 28-year-old man and later released him, and an investigation was opened to identify the other offenders.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Saturday condemned both attacks.
”Last night's arson attack on the synagogue in East Melbourne is cowardly, is an act of violence and antisemitism, and has no place in Australian society. It is to be hoped that the perpetrator is brought to justice urgently, and that he faces the full force of the law, and anyone involved in this attack faces the full force of the law,” Albanese said in a statement.
“And the fact that people were having a peaceful dinner and was disrupted by this act of violence could have had catastrophic consequences. And it is just fortunate that people have been kept safe,” the statement continued.
“The Victoria Police are leading the investigation, but we have pledged Australian Federal Police support, as well as our security and intelligence agencies, including ASIO. The Home Affairs Minister will meet with people tomorrow in Melbourne as well.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement on Saturday that he views the two incidents in Melbourne “with utmost gravity.” Calling the antisemitic attacks “reprehensible” and “severe hate crimes,” the premier emphasized that they must be eradicated.
“The State of Israel will continue to stand alongside the Australian Jewish community, and we demand that the Australian government take all action to deal with the rioters to the fullest extent of the law and prevent similar attacks in the future,” Netanyahu’s statement concluded.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog also condemned 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.” The president stressed that it was “intolerable that in 2025, we are still faced with the chilling image of an attempt to burn Jews alive as they pray, and attacks on Jewish businesses.” He asserted that the attacks on the Jewish community must end, demanding that authorities protect Jewish citizens.
“Antisemitism is a stain on any society,” Herzog continued, “and must be confronted with urgency and resolve.”
