Man charged with stealing car linked to firebombing at Adass Israel Synagogue in Ripponlea
A man has been charged with stealing a “communal crime car” that was allegedly used as a getaway vehicle after an arson attack at a synagogue in Melbourne’s inner east.
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The man accused of stealing the “communal crime car” which would later be used to firebomb a Melbourne synagogue has been charged by federal police.
A stolen Volkswagen Golf was allegedly used as the getaway car after the Adass Israel Synagogue was set alight in December last year.
Authorities say the stolen Golf had been used in several other violent crimes across the city, including a drive-by shooting at Bundoora.
Federal and Victorian police on Thursday revealed that the man allegedly responsible for stealing the vehicle – later dubbed a “communal crime car” – had been arrested.
A 20-year-old man was arrested at Williamstown on Wednesday before Australian Federal Police raided a home at Melton South.
Unknown items were seized from that address and are being processed by investigators.
Police have accused him of stealing the vehicle from Melton about a week before the synagogue attack.
The man has been charged with theft of motor vehicle and failing to comply with an order under section 3LA of the Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) to provide access to applications on his mobile telephone.
He was granted “strict conditional bail” to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on October 3.
No charges have been laid over the actual arson attack on the synagogue yet.
Heavily armed police took the man into custody during a dramatic arrest in broad daylight.
Masked federal officers sat the handcuffed and barefoot man on the ground before marching him to a police van.
The Herald Sun in May revealed that the Golf was also linked to the firebombing the Lux nightclub in South Yarra.
The investigation into who commissioned and executed the attack on the Adass Israel Synagogue is an active one.
Anti-terror police on both a state and federal level have made significant progress in recent months.
“The JCTT, which includes Victoria Police, AFP and ASIO, previously stated last year’s arson was likely a politically motivated attack,” a statement released on Thursday read.
“This remains the position of the JCTT, and the investigation (into the synagogue fire) remains a terrorism investigation.
“The nightclub fire and shooting are being investigated by Victoria Police and are not considered politically motivated attacks.
“The investigation into the Ripponlea synagogue fire continues to be treated as a priority by police, including the involvement of significant resources across all agencies.”
Originally published as Man charged with stealing car linked to firebombing at Adass Israel Synagogue in Ripponlea
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