Melbourne Synagogue Fire Sparks Concerns Amid Rising Antisemitism

An arsonist set fire to the entrance of a Melbourne synagogue on a Friday evening, forcing the congregation to evacuate. This incident occurred seven months after a previous attack in the same city, where criminals used an accelerant to damage a synagogue, resulting in injury to a worshipper.

The recent attack involved a man who doused the double front doors of the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation with a flammable substance and ignited it around 8 p.m. Approximately 20 worshippers, who were sharing a meal to observe the Shabbat, the Jewish day of rest, were compelled to leave through a rear exit. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. Firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze, which was contained to the front entrance.

This incident is part of a larger pattern of antisemitic attacks that have increased in Australia since the Hamas assault on Israel in October 2023, which initiated the war in Gaza. Jewish and Muslim organizations, along with hate researchers, have documented significant increases in hate-related incidents targeting both groups. The Australian government has responded by appointing special envoys to address antisemitism and Islamophobia within the community.

In a separate incident last December, two masked individuals attacked the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne's southeast. They caused extensive damage by spreading a liquid accelerant throughout the building before setting it alight. One worshipper sustained minor burns. No charges have been filed in connection with that attack, which Prime Minister Anthony Albanese attributed to antisemitism.

The Victorian Joint Counter-Terrorism Team, which includes state and federal police, as well as Australia's main domestic spy agency, has indicated that the recent fire is likely a politically motivated attack. Police have released a CCTV image of a suspect. Authorities have described the synagogue fire as a serious crime. The investigation will examine the intent and ideology of the person involved to determine if the incident constitutes terrorism. A terrorism declaration would provide additional resources and could lead to more severe charges.

The president of the synagogue, Danny Segal, has called for the broader Australian community to support his congregation. He emphasized the importance of peaceful coexistence and the unfairness of such attacks.

In a separate event on the same Friday night, masked protesters harassed diners at an Israeli-owned restaurant in downtown Melbourne. A window at the Miznon restaurant was broken. A 28-year-old woman was arrested for interfering with police.

The Anti-Defamation Commission chair, Dvir Abramovich, stated that diners were terrorized as the group chanted anti-Israel slogans. The Melbourne Lord Mayor and the Victorian Premier have condemned both the synagogue and restaurant incidents, emphasizing that such acts are shocking and designed to traumatize Jewish families.