An arsonist set fire to the door of a Melbourne synagogue on Friday evening, forcing 20 worshippers to flee, but no one was injured. The incident occurred seven months after a similar attack on another synagogue in Melbourne left a worshipper with minor burns.
The fire started around 8 pm at the downtown East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation, and firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze, which damaged the front doors. Police identified an unknown suspect, described as a man in his mid-30s with a beard and long hair, who was seen walking through a nearby park before entering the synagogue.
Victoria Premier Jacinta Allan condemned the attack, calling it “an act of hate” that aims to “traumatize Jewish families.” Acting Victoria Police Commander Zorka Dunstan described the fire as a “serious crime” and emphasized that it is not being considered a terrorism incident at this stage.
The synagogue’s president, Danny Segal, called for community support, saying, “We’re here to be in peace, we’re here for everybody to live together.” The police released a CCTV image of the suspect, who is believed to be connected to other antisemitic incidents in Melbourne.
This attack is part of a wave of antisemitic attacks that have been plaguing Australia since October 2023. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese previously blamed an antisemitic attack on one of the synagogues for the violence. The Australian government has appointed special envoys to combat antisemitism and Islamophobia, but more work needs to be done to address these rising hate crimes.
Victoria Police is investigating potential links between this incident and a recent arson attack at another business in Melbourne, as well as other incidents of vandalism and harassment targeting Jewish communities. The community must stand together against such acts of hate and work towards creating a safer environment for all.
Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/australian-synagogue-set-on-fire-congregation-worshippers-inside-victoria-melbourne