Second man arrested over Adass Israel Synagogue firebombing

A second man has been arrested in connection with the firebombing of the Adass Israel Synagogue in Ripponlea, in what police continue to investigate as a politically motivated act of terrorism.

Victoria Police, working with the Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT), arrested a 21-year-old man from Werribee during coordinated raids across Melbourne. Counter-terrorism police say the man is one of three individuals directly responsible for the December 2024 arson attack, which destroyed two of the synagogue’s three buildings.

Police said they would interview the 21-year-old concerning several offences, including arson under section 197 (1)(6) of the Crimes Act 1958 (Vic), conduct endangering life under section 22, and theft of a motor vehicle under section 74. These offences carry maximum penalties of between 10 and 15 years’ imprisonment.

Police allege the man is one of three perpetrators who broke into the synagogue in the early hours of 6 December 2024, poured accelerant throughout the building using red jerry cans and brooms, and set it alight before fleeing in the stolen car. Photos and CCTV footage released by police in May showed three hooded, masked individuals exiting a vehicle before using an axe to damage the building’s entrance.

Two congregants who were preparing for morning prayers escaped the blaze, with one suffering minor injuries.

“This was a deliberate, well-planned attack designed to maximise destruction and spread fear,” said Deputy Commissioner Wendy Hargraves. “We have now charged two people, and I expect there will be more to come. The investigation remains very much ongoing, and this remains a terrorism investigation.”

Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Wendy Steendam said the arrest marked a “significant step forward” and was a demonstration of the force’s “ongoing efforts to hold those involved to account.”

Police executed seven search warrants across Melbourne on Wednesday, seizing various items, including electronic devices, which will be forensically examined. The operation was supported by the Victoria Police Special Operations Group and AFP Tactical Response.

There has been mounting pressure for police to make further arrests. Authorities have confirmed that additional charges and arrests are expected.

The first arrest occurred on 16 July, when a 20-year-old man from Williamstown was charged with theft of the getaway vehicle and failing to provide access to applications on his phone. He is due to appear in court again in October.

The stolen blue VW Golf was linked to several serious crimes, including the Lux nightclub arson at South Yarra in November and a shooting and arson incident at Bundoora on the same night as the synagogue attack. Police have stressed that only the synagogue firebombing is being treated as politically motivated.

The Adass Israel Synagogue, established by Holocaust survivors in 1949, had previously been the target of arson in 1995. Fireproof Torah Arks installed after that incident helped preserve some scrolls in the latest attack. The congregation is currently holding services at a confidential temporary location.

Jewish leaders welcomed the second arrest while urging authorities to pursue those believed to have orchestrated the crime.

Executive Council of Australian Jewry president Daniel Aghion KC said the arrest brings “some long-awaited comfort and reassurance to our community” but described it as “ominous that police are continuing to treat the despicable firebombing of the Adass synagogue as politically motivated.”

He added that such attacks are a danger to all Australians and thanked police for their “painstaking efforts to date,” expressing hope that “further arrests will be made in the near future so that all the offenders, including the masterminds, are swiftly brought to justice.” Only then, he said, can a true deterrent be established “against this sort of chilling behaviour.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese previously condemned the attack as “a vile act of cruelty” and “an act of terrorism fuelled by antisemitism.” The federal government pledged up to $30 million for restoration and security upgrades, including $250,000 for Torah scroll replacement and repair.

AFP Deputy Commissioner Krissy Barrett said the effect of the attack had “rippled through a community that continues to be targeted by criminals” and confirmed that the arson is still being investigated as a politically motivated crime. She thanked the Jewish community, and in particular the Adass Israel Synagogue congregation, for their “stoicism, patience, and the support they have shown the JCTT.”

Barrett said the investigation included the possibility of offshore criminals working in collaboration with local associates. “The motivation is still being assessed, and we will make further comments at an appropriate time about that,” she said.

Barrett confirmed that members of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance and other international partners have been assisting in the investigation. She also stated that Kazem Hamad, an overseas-based convicted drug trafficker, had “come up in our investigation” and remains a line of inquiry.

Deputy Commissioner Steendam ruled out any connection between the Adass firebombing and other incidents, including the illegal tobacco war, the fire at an East Melbourne synagogue, and the discovery of a caravan in Sydney containing explosives and a list of Jewish addresses. That caravan incident was later deemed a hoax.

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Mike Bush added, “People deserve to be safe and feel safe, particularly when it comes to their places of worship. This is not negotiable in any way.”

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au. Confidential reports can also be made to the National Security Hotline on 1800 123 400.