Police make new arrest as part of probe into Adass Israel Synagogue firebombing
Exiled gangland boss Kazem ‘Kaz’ Hamad is part of the police probe into the firebombing of the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne, the revelation coming as police made a new arrest over the attack.
Victoria
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Police say crime kingpin Kazem “Kaz” Hamad is part of the police probe into the firebombing of the Adass Israel Synagogue.
Federal police confirmed the exiled architect of Melbourne’s tobacco wars has been discussed as part of the investigation into the Ripponlea atrocity.
They also announced that officers had arrested a Victorian man they suspect is one of three men who torched the place of worship on December 6 last year.
Australian Federal Police Deputy Commissioner Krissy Barrett publicly confirmed Hamad was part of the probe.
“Our investigation is not limited to Australia, it involves exploring criminals offshore,” she said at a press conference on Wednesday.
“We suspect these (offshore) criminals worked with criminal associates in Victoria to carry out the arson attack.
“That is a name that has come up in our investigation and that remains one of our ongoing lines of enquiry.”
Victoria Police said there appeared to be no link between the synagogue inferno and the state’s tobacco war.
But authorities confirming Hamad’s name had been brought up among detectives is shaping to be one of the most intriguing developments in the terror probe.
Hamad is also confirmed to be part of the investigation into the firebombing of the wrong Truganina home in which innocent woman Katie Tangey was killed in February.
Hamad’s apparent links to the synagogue investigation were brought up as police revealed they had arrested another man in relation to the Ripponlea fire.
A 21-year-old Werribee man was arrested during one of seven pre-dawn raids across Melbourne on Wednesday morning.
Search warrants were executed at homes in Toorak, Point Cook, Airport West, Hadfield, Werribee, Coburg and Weir Views.
Multiple mobile phones were allegedly seized and will be examined by detectives.
An AFP member was hospitalised after he was attacked by an unrestrained dog during the raid at Weir Views, where the man was arrested.
Police were forced to shoot the dog, which was later euthanised at a vet clinic.
“Investigators will allege that this man deliberately set fire to the Ripponlea synagogue,” Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Wendy Steendam said.
“We anticipate that there will be further arrests.
“I understand it can be difficult when these matters take time, but again, make no mistake, this investigation remains a key priority for Victoria Police, the AFP and ASIO.”
The Werribee man may still face terrorism charges, as well as those related to the actual arson hit.
“No offences are off the table at the moment,” Ms Steendam added.
New Chief Commissioner Mike Bush said it was not negotiable that people should feel safe in their places of worship.
“Victoria Police has seen first-hand the impact this incident has had in the Victorian community – the fear and distress a crime like this can cause,” he said.
“People deserve to be safe and feel safe, particularly when it comes to their places of worship. This is not negotiable in any way.”
Police are believed to be still trying to establish why Hamad, based in the Middle East, might allegedly want to attack a synagogue.
He had for 18 months been the subject of heavy scrutiny by detectives from Victoria Police crime command over a wave of illicit tobacco-related firebombings.
The synagogue fire was immediately assessed to be a terror crime, meaning it escalated to a multi-jurisdictional law enforcement response.
The fire is also unlikely to have escaped the interest of Israel.
Recent years have shown being based overseas is no guarantee of safety.
A succession of them have been returned here.
Anti-terror police this month announced they had arrested the man accused of stealing the alleged getaway vehicle, a 2020 Volkswagen Golf.
Investigators have been under pressure from those in the Jewish community but police have made significant progress in recent weeks.
Executive Council of Australian Jewry president Daniel Aghion KC thanked police for their “painstaking efforts” thus far.
“Today’s arrest brings some long-awaited comfort and reassurance to our community,” he said.
“It is ominous that police are continuing to treat the despicable firebombing of the Adass synagogue as politically motivated. Such attacks are a danger to all Australians.”