Man faces court over ‘cowardly’ attack on Melbourne synagogue

A man has fronted court for the first time after being charged by counter-terror police over a fire at a synagogue.

The identity of a man accused of firebombing a synagogue has been revealed, as a series of alleged antisemitic attacks at several other locations draws international attention.

Angelo Loras, 34, from Toongabbie in NSW, was arrested in Melbourne’s CBD on Saturday night, about 24 hours after the front doors of the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation were allegedly set alight, forcing 20 people to flee.

He has been charged with multiple offences, including reckless conduct endangering life, criminal damage by fire and possession of a controlled weapon.

The 34-year-old appeared in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Sunday, where the court was told it was his first time in custody.

He was remanded until a hearing on July 22.

Detectives will investigate the accused man’s intent and ideology to determine if the incident was an act of terrorism.

Police are also investigating another alleged act of antisemitism on the same night, when protesters who splintered from a larger demonstration allegedly smashed a window, flipped tables, threw chairs and chanted “death to the IDF” outside Israeli restaurant Miznon.

Hours later, offenders spray-painted three cars and a wall outside a Greensborough business in Melbourne’s northeast before setting fire to the vehicles, destroying one and damaging two.

Police have revealed that they are investigating a fourth incident in which offenders used stencils to spray paint offensive images on pillars at a busy intersection and several walls in Elsternwick.

It came as hundreds gathered for a pro-Palestine rally in Melbourne on Sunday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned “reprehensible anti-Semitic attacks” on both the Melbourne synagogue and restaurant.

He urged the federal government to “take all action” against those responsible.

None of the incidents has been declared terrorism-related, but the force is increasing patrols around the synagogue and in the city’s southeast.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, former attorney-general Mark Dreyfus and Melbourne MP Sarah Witty met with the synagogue’s Rabbi Dovid Gutnick, president Danny Segal and his wife on Sunday morning.

Mr Burke and Mr Dreyfus described the firebombing as an “attack on Australia” and the entire community.

Mr Burke stopped short of declaring the alleged arson attack an act of terrorism, saying it would be up to Victoria Police to decide.

He refused to be drawn on Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s demand the Australian government “take all action to deal with the rioters to the fullest extent of the law”.

President Israel Herzog tweeted: “This is not the first such attack in Australia in recent months. But it must be the last.

Australian authorities must take all steps necessary to protect their Jewish citizens. Antisemitism is a stain on any society, and must be confronted with urgency and resolve.”

Mr Burke said he spoke with the Israeli Ambassador to Australia, Amir Maimon, on Saturday night as news filtered through of plans for him to fly from Sydney for Sunday’s meeting.

The ambassador took it as a signal of the government taking Friday’s attacks very seriously, Mr Burke said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the synagogue arson as a “cowardly” act of violence and anti-Semitism and said the attacks on the restaurant and business were unacceptable.

The federal government has offered federal police and security and intelligence agency support to investigators.

“Those responsible for these shocking acts must face the full force of the law,” he said.

Victorian opposition police spokesman and Jewish MP David Southwick criticised Premier Jacinta Allan, who condemned the attacks in a statement, for not fronting the media over the weekend.

“Where is the premier,” he asked.

“The Jewish community feel like there is a war zone here in Melbourne.”

The Jewish Community Council of Victoria has responded to the arrest, saying, “We welcome the news that detectives from the Counter Terrorism Security Investigation Unit have charged a man in relation to the attack on the East Melbourne Synagogue.

The JCCV passes on our appreciation to Victoria Police, which dealt with this serious incident with real ugency.”

Ms Allan is expected to visit the synagogue on Monday.

The attacks come seven months after a blaze destroyed two buildings at the Adass Israel Synagogue in the city’s south and forced worshippers inside to flee.

MELBOURNE’S ALLEGED ANTI-SEMITIC ATTACKS:

East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation:

* The synagogue was firebombed on Friday night with about 20 worshippers inside for a Shabbat dinner

* A man allegedly poured a flammable liquid on the front door and set it alight

* The 34-year-old from Toongabbie in Sydney’s west was arrested on Saturday night in central Melbourne, with detectives investigating his intent and ideology

* He is expected to face court on Sunday charged with reckless conduct endanger life, criminal damage by fire, and possess a controlled weapon

CBD Israeli restaurant:

* A group who splintered away from an earlier protest allegedly smashed a window, flipped tables and threw chairs outside Israeli restaurant Miznon in the city’s CBD on Friday night

* Organisers of the protest said the restaurant was targeted because it was part-owned by Israeli businessman Shahar Segal, a spokesman for a food aid group backed by Israel and the US

* A 28-year-old from Footscray was arrested for hindering police and released on summons

Greensborough business:

* Three cars and a wall were spray-painted outside a Greensborough business in the city’s northeast in the early hours of Saturday morning

* One vehicle was destroyed and two damaged after being set alight

* There were “inferences of anti-Semitism” and the business has been subjected to pro-Palestinian activity in the past year, police said

* Police have not established links between the three incidents

HOW HAVE LEADERS REACTED?

* “The reprehensible anti-Semitic attacks … are severe hate crimes that must be uprooted” – Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

* “Anti-Semitism has no place in Australia” – Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

* “This was an attack on Australia” – Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke

* “This is disgraceful behaviour by a pack of cowards” – Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan

* “Nothing that we are doing here in Melbourne is going to have any impact on the terrible events in Israel and Gaza” – Melbourne Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece