Police name man of interest after Chanukah car arson attack in St Kilda

Victorian Police have publicly identified 47-year-old John Argento as a person they believe may be able to assist with their investigation into a targeted arson attack on a vehicle displaying a Chanukah message in Melbourne’s inner south-east.

Detectives from the Moorabbin Crime Investigation Unit have urged Argento to contact Victoria Police as soon as possible, as enquiries continue into the early morning fire in St Kilda East.

Emergency services were called to a property on Balaclava Road at about 2.50am on Thursday, 25 December, after a car parked in a residential driveway outside a rabbi’s home was deliberately set alight.

The vehicle had a mobile billboard mounted on its roof promoting Chanukah. No one was inside the car at the time. A woman and three children inside the house were evacuated as a precaution. No injuries were reported.

Police said Argento is known to them and has an outstanding arrest warrant for deception-related offending. Investigators believe he lives a transient lifestyle and frequents Melbourne’s inner southern and northern suburbs.

Detectives are also seeking to speak with Argento in relation to a car break-in reported about 20 minutes after the arson, in the same general area.

Argento is described as approximately 185 cm tall, with a thin build, blue eyes, grey hair and a fair complexion.

While police are treating the fire as a targeted attack, they said there is currently no indication of a broader threat to the Jewish community.

The arson comes amid heightened concern about antisemitic incidents across Melbourne and other parts of Australia since the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel. Jewish community organisations and police have reported a sharp rise in vandalism, threats, graffiti and targeted intimidation, particularly around synagogues, schools and visibly Jewish symbols.

The incident follows the deadly Bondi Beach attack earlier this month, which claimed the lives of community members and others at a Chanukah event and intensified fears about targeted antisemitic violence in Australia.

Victoria Police has increased patrols around Jewish institutions and community events in recent months, particularly during major religious observances such as Chanukah. Authorities have repeatedly urged the public to report suspicious behaviour and incidents immediately.

Assistant Commissioner Chris Gilbert, from the Southern Metro Region, said police understood the seriousness of the offence and its impact.

“We understand the devastating impact this type of offence has on our Jewish community, and we are continuing to prioritise this investigation,” he said.

“We won’t fully understand the motives of this arsonist until we get them into custody.”

He said police did not believe there was an ongoing risk to the wider community at this stage. Operation Trinity units, Public Order Response Team officers and uniformed police conducted overnight searches, but no arrests have been made.

The vehicle will be forensically examined by an arson chemist as part of the investigation, and police patrols have been increased in the area to provide reassurance.

The alleged arson was designed to frighten Jews for being visibly Jewish, Zionist Federation of Australia president Jeremy Leibler said.

“After Bondi, and with the number of recent threats and investigations around the country, Australia has to treat antisemitism as a public safety issue, not a niche community concern,” he said.

A federal royal commission or an equivalent national enquiry with real powers into the Bondi attack and wider antisemitism crisis is the only way the nation can get the truth, accountability and lasting reform, Mr Leibler said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the apparent firebombing was “beyond comprehension”.

But he has resisted calling a royal commission in the wake of the Bondi mass shooting, instead backing an NSW enquiry and prioritising a faster but more limited review of intelligence and law enforcement agencies.

Anyone who witnessed the incident, has dashcam or CCTV footage, or knows the whereabouts of John Argento is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit information online via the Crime Stoppers Victoria website.

with AAP