MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Ali Younes, a 20-year-old man, has been charged with setting fire to the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne, an incident that Australian authorities attribute to the direction of Iran. On Wednesday, Younes appeared via video link in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court and was remanded in custody. His case marks a continuation of the investigation into antisemitic acts, including this arson that occurred in December.
According to police, Younes is one of three masked individuals who doused the synagogue’s interior with a flammable liquid before igniting it, resulting in extensive damage and injuring one worshipper. This incident is part of a larger investigation, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese alleging that Iran's Revolutionary Guard orchestrated similar attacks on both the synagogue and a kosher restaurant, Lewis' Continental Kitchen in Sydney, that took place two months earlier.
Iran has refuted these allegations through its Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmail Baghaei, who linked the accusations to challenges faced by the Iranian government following Australia’s recognition of a Palestinian state. As of now, no direct connections to Iran have emerged from earlier court proceedings regarding the Sydney and Melbourne incidents, although the Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO) claims to have credible evidence supporting their allegations against Iran.
Younes has been ordered to reappear in court on December 4, as has his co-accused, 21-year-old Giovanni Laulu. Both men face multiple charges: arson, recklessly endangering life, and car theft. The charge of arson alone could lead to a 15-year imprisonment, with the other charges providing a maximum sentence of 10 years each. This crime has been declared a terrorist act early in the investigation, enhancing the resources available for investigation despite no terrorism charges being officially filed yet.
The Victorian Joint Counter Terrorism Team, which includes officials from the state's Victoria Police, the Australian Federal Police, and ASIO, has charged both suspects. ASIO director-general Mike Burgess emphasized that the Revolutionary Guard allegedly used a complex network of proxies to conceal their involvement in these antisemitic attacks in Australia.
Benjamin Klein, a board member at the damaged synagogue, expressed his shock at the targeting of their community space by international terrorists. He noted that state and federal authorities are providing increased security at the temporary location where the congregation has gathered since the fire.
Alex Ryvchin, co-CEO of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, remarked on the broader concerns among Jewish Australians, stating that the attacks heighten fears of further targeting. The owner of the attacked Sydney restaurant is grappling with the implications of the Revolutionary Guard’s involvement and how it instills fear within the community.
Meanwhile, two men from Sydney, Wayne Dean Ogden, 40, and Juon Amuoi, 26, have been charged in connection with the restaurant attack, while Sayed Mohammed Moosawi, a 32-year-old former Nomads motorcycle gang chapter president, faces charges of directing the firebombing. Despite the serious nature of the accusations, Moosawi has been released on bail.
Prime Minister Albanese has refrained from disclosing specific details on how Iran allegedly orchestrated the two arson crimes, opting to keep the information under wraps due to ongoing investigations. His statements indicate that both the synagogue and restaurant attacks stem from coordinated efforts by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard in concert with both domestic and international criminal elements.
In a significant diplomatic move, Australia is severing ties with Iran, labeling the actions as an attack on their social fabric. Iranian Ambassador Ahmad Sadeghi has been expelled from the country, marking the first such action since World War II, while other Iranian diplomats were also asked to leave.
Australia's Foreign Minister, Penny Wong, has advised all Australians currently in Iran to leave immediately, citing the lack of a diplomatic presence in Tehran and concerns for safety in light of the unpredictable nature of the Iranian regime.
