MELBOURNE, Australia — A 34-year-old man named Angelo Loras has been charged in connection with an arson attack on a synagogue in Melbourne, highlighting a troubling escalation of antisemitic violence in the city. The incident occurred on Friday night while 20 worshippers were gathered inside the East Melbourne Synagogue, also known as the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation. Loras faced charges including arson, endangering life, and property damage, in addition to a charge for possessing a "controlled weapon," details of which have not been disclosed. He appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Sunday without entering a plea or seeking bail, and he has been remanded in custody, scheduled to appear in court again on July 22.
The arson incident involved igniting flammable liquid at the entrance door of the historic synagogue, established 148 years ago. Fortunately, the congregation managed to evacuate through a rear exit, and firefighters successfully contained the fire to the door area. Rabbi Dovid Gutnick, who was present with his family during the attack, indicated that security cameras captured footage of the assailant ringing the doorbell shortly before the flames broke out. Gutnick’s 13-year-old son opted not to open the door after observing the visitor on the camera, a decision that likely prevented further harm.
The arson attack was part of a series of antisemitic incidents occurring in Melbourne over that weekend. Alongside the synagogue incident, protesters clashed with diners at an Israeli-owned restaurant in downtown Melbourne, where around 20 masked individuals harassed patrons with chants of “Death to the IDF." This confrontation resulted in damage to the restaurant, including a broken window and overturned furniture. A 28-year-old woman was arrested at the scene for hindering police investigations.
Additionally, investigators are looking into the vandalism of a business in Melbourne’s northern suburbs, which was subjected to both spray-painting and an arson attack involving three of its vehicles. Evidence at the scene indicated antisemitic messages, and the business had faced previous pro-Palestinian demonstrations. Local authorities are examining the possibility of connections among these incidents, despite the current lack of verified links.
The rising wave of antisemitic acts has drawn strong condemnation from political leaders in Australia. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke emphasized the importance of addressing these occurrences while meeting with Jewish community leaders at the damaged synagogue. He remarked on the interconnected nature of the events and their deep-seated roots in antisemitism and bigotry, noting that such violence is not representative of the values held by Australians.
International reactions have also surfaced, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urging the Australian government to take decisive action against these riots and prevent further attacks. He expressed grave concern over what he termed “reprehensible antisemitic attacks” that included attempts to set fire to a place of worship and violent actions against citizens. Netanyahu labeled these incidents as severe hate crimes needing urgent attention and eradication.
