NSW man charged over East Melbourne synagogue fire

The Rabbi of the East Melbourne Synagogue has spoken out after the suspicious fire as police charged a Sydney man accused of lighting it.

A NSW man has been charged over the suspicious blaze at an East Melbourne synagogue. Credit: Seven

A NSW man has been charged by counter-terror police over a fire at a Melbourne synagogue.

Angelo Loras, 34, from the Sydney suburb of Toongabbie was arrested in the Melbourne CBD at 8.15pm on Saturday, 24 hours after the front of the Albert St place of worship was set alight with 20 people inside.

He was set to appear in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Sunday, however made no appearance either via videolink or in person for his mention.

Mr Loras made no application for bail and has been remanded into custody.

He is expected to face court next on July 22, where he will appear via videolink.

The Rabbi of the East Melbourne Synagogue Rabbi Dovid Gutnick condemned the arson attack and described the incident as a “wake up call”.

Rabbi Dovid Gutnick at the Synagogue in East Melbourne. Picture: David Crosling

On Friday, a group of 20 people congregated in the 150-year old Synagogue like any other Shabbat, with families and leaders enjoying a meal until they were met with sudden danger.

At about 8pm the doors of the holy building were set alight.

Rabbi Gutnick said his first thought was: “Have all these concerns finally come to our front door?”

Rabbi Gutnick described the attack as ‘a wake up call’. Picture: Tony Gough

He sprang into action, grabbing the extinguisher and herding up his congregation, which included children.

There was chaos and worry according to the Rabbi and there are elements he is “struggling to process”.

“But then you kick into action”, he said.

The group then safely evacuated the building.

“Thank god we weren’t harmed”, Rabbi Gutnick said.

“At the heart of it we were spared.”

Rabbi Gutnick said it would be a “long-term journey” for the congregation to come to terms with the gravity of the attack and the thought of what could have been.

Having undergone pastoral training and having an understanding into psychosocial relations, the Rabbi said that the coming days, weeks and months will be telling.

“We have still been a part of a significant event and it will take some time to process that”, he says.

When asked if Jacinta Allan had reached out to offer her support, Rabbi Gutnick said that the premier “sent a staff member of the synagogue within an hour or two [of the attack] and I imagine that at some point in the coming week the premier will attend.”

He praised the federal government for reaching out “immediately”.

Two days on, Rabbi Gutnick said the mood was “mixed”.

“There is a bit of anxiety and despair but there is also a certain type of paradoxical optimism about it,” he said.

“This is a wake up call for us all.”

Reflecting on the swiftness of the alleged arsonist’s arrest, he said it was “comforting to know that the person who did this isn’t free in the community at the moment to potentially have another go or to do more harm.”

Despite this he understandably said: “We want to see the community protected a little better”.

“It’s this tiny slither of people that bear an animus for Jews and probably other minorities as well and they’re the ones we need to look out for and see if there is any time of program or legislation that can work to quell that and bring those people to heal”, the Rabbi said.

‘Detectives investigating intent and ideology’

Mr Loras’s arrest was made by members of the counter terrorism security investigation team.

“It is alleged the man was seen walking through Parliament Gardens before entering the grounds of the synagogue on Albert Street on 4 July about 8pm,” a Victoria Police statement said.

“The man allegedly poured a flammable liquid on the front door of the building and set it on fire before fleeing the scene on foot in a westerly direction along Albert Street.”

The 20 people inside who were taking part in Shabbat were uninjured.

The Toongabbie man faces charges of reckless conduct endangering life, reckless conduct endangering serious injury, criminal damage by fire, and possessing a controlled weapon.

“Detectives will continue to examine the intent and ideology of the person charged to determine if the incident is in fact terrorism,” the police statement said.

“Detectives are yet to establish any links to two additional incidents on Friday night; a public order incident in Melbourne’s Hardware Lane and an arson attack and criminal damage to a business on Para Rd, Greensborough, but will continue to make inquiries to determine any potential links.”

A lone Jewish supporter at Synagogue in East Melbourne where a fire was lit at the doorway on Friday night. Picture: David Crosling

Anti-Defamation Commission chair Dvir Abramovich welcomed the arrest, saying the crime had struck far beyond the building attack.

“What occurred on Friday night has ripped through the heart of the Jewish community shocked the broader public to the core,” he said.

“The arrest provides some comfort to a community gripped by fear, anger, and disbelief and will offer a measure of reassurance at a time of deep distress. This moment demands more than condemnation. It requires moral clarity, unity, and a national awakening that we will never accept violence dressed as protest, or hatred masquerading as politics.”

Dr Abramovich said Friday night’s crime was a test of the community.

“I commend Victoria Police and the Counter Terrorism Security Investigation Unit for their swift and decisive response,” he said.

Pro Palestine group Whistleblowers, Activists & Communities Alliance has condoned Friday night’s attack on Miznon in a social media statement, claiming the incident was intended to “refocus” attention on Israel while politicians “clutch their pearls.”

“While politicians in so called Australia clutch their pearls over one meal that was interrupted, we ask people to refocus their attention on Israel’s genocidal reign of terror over the Palestinians,” WACA said via Instagram.

The post stated Miznon was targeted due to its Israeli owner Shahar Segal’s role as a spokesperson for the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.

WACA has condemned the arsonist who lit fire to the East Melbourne Synagogue while stating that media outlets were attempting to “conflate” the synagogue attack with the action taken against Miznon.

“Pro-Palestinian activists have never attacked places of worship and we condemn such attacks,” WACA said.

Originally published as NSW man charged over East Melbourne synagogue fire