Melbourne, Australia: Worshippers at Melbourne’s Adass Israel synagogue was forced to flee after it was set on fire in what Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has condemned as an “act of hate.”
The fire, which occurred early on 6th of December morning, left the synagogue severely damaged, with one person injured. Firefighters arrived just after 4:00 AM local time and found the building engulfed in flames.
Several people were inside for morning prayers and reported seeing firebombs thrown at the synagogue. Witnesses described hearing banging on the door and window, followed by flames rapidly spreading inside.
One individual was injured while trying to fight the fire. Police are investigating the incident and believe the fire was deliberately started but are keeping an “open mind” on the motive. They have identified two masked individuals seen spreading accelerant inside the building.
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) December 5, 2024
Prime Minister Albanese denounced the violence, and added that the Australian Federal Police had been briefed to assist local authorities in Victoria and called for the perpetrators to be held accountable under the law.
Victoria Police are conducting an investigation, and an arson chemist will examine the site. Det Insp Chris Murray stated that police would dedicate significant resources to the investigation and would increase patrols in the area to ensure the community feels safe returning to places of worship.
Jewish community leaders, including Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) President Daniel Aghion, expressed concern over the rising antisemitism in the country, stating that the community had anticipated such an attack.
They emphasized that the incident marks an escalation of antisemitic sentiment, with growing worries over the safety of Jewish communities across Australia.
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