A firebombing at a synagogue in Melbourne on Friday has been deemed a terrorist incident, with Australian officials launching an investigation into the attack. The Adass Israel Synagogue, a significant Jewish center in the city’s south, was targeted during overnight prayers, forcing worshippers to flee.
Victoria Police have identified three suspects in connection with the firebombing, but their identities remain undisclosed. Commissioner Shane Patton described the attack as “horrific, callous and targeted.” Authorities have also warned that there is no evidence of further attacks on other synagogues in Melbourne.
The Australian government has established a new task force to combat antisemitism, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese committing an additional $32.5 million for security measures at Jewish community sites nationwide. The move comes amid a surge in antisemitic attacks across the country since the Hamas conflicts in October 2023 and Israel’s war in Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the attack as “an abhorrent act of antisemitism,” blaming the Australian government’s support for a UN resolution calling on Israel to end its presence in Gaza.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2024/12/09/australia/melbourne-australia-synagogue-attack-investigation-intl-hnk/index.html