On Friday, arsonists severely damaged a synagogue in Melbourne, causing what Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has called an antisemitic attack.
After the Adass Israel Synagogue caught fire, Albanese told reporters in Perth that there is no place for such an act in Australia. Attacking a synagogue is antisemitic and goes against everyone’s freedom to practice their religion in safety and harmony in Australia.
Detective Inspector Chris Murray of Victoria Police informed reporters at the site that a witness who arrived to the synagogue for early morning prayers reported seeing two people in masks using brooms to disperse a liquid accelerant within the structure.
He said that after causing the fire, he immediately left the area, but when questioned about the attack’s motivation, he remained silent.
The fire was put out by about 60 firefighters using 17 fire engines.
Israel’s envoy to Australia, Amir Maimon, also denounced the attack on X, calling it “heinous.”
Victoria’s premier, Jacinta Allan, promised to contribute $100,000 AUD ($64,278 USD) toward the synagogue’s restoration.
In a statement, she denounced “this act of cowardice, hate, and fear” and pledged to bolster police presence at key sites, such as schools and public gathering places like nearby retail malls. We denounce hate, violence, and antisemitism.
The Jewish Community Council of Victoria has offered prayers for the victims’ full and quick recovery and extended its support for them and their families during these difficult times. They have also offered assistance to the larger Jewish community as it starts to recover from this terrible event.
The Jewish Community Council of Victoria’s CEO, Naomi Levin, stated in a statement, “We were absolutely shocked, but not surprised, to hear that a synagogue here in Melbourne had been attacked overnight.”
Similarly, Robert Gregory, the CEO of the Australian Jewish Association, commented on Facebook that he was “outraged but not at all surprised by the attack.”
We have warned the Albanese government for more than a year that its policies were encouraging antisemitism and resulting in attacks on Jews. “I said.”
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