Bullet sparks fresh police probe at synagogue fire in Ripponlea
Police are investigating a rusty bullet found outside the Adass Israel Synagogue, a day after worshippers were left with burns and millions of dollars worth of artefacts were destroyed.
Victoria
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A bullet has been discovered outside the front of the Adass Israel Synagogue sparking a fresh police investigation.
It comes after the venue was targeted in an early morning arson attack on Friday at the hands of two masked men, currently still on the run.
A Victoria Police spokeswoman confirmed a single bullet had been found on the footpath outside the synagogue, along Glen Eira Ave in Ripponlea, just before 5pm on Saturday.
“The item will be examined and the exact circumstances surrounding it are being investigated,” the spokeswoman said.
“All avenues of enquiry are being explored, it is too early to say if there is any connection at this stage.”
Meanwhile, the head of Australia’s peak Jewish organisation has taken aim at the federal government for failing to keep Jews safe.
Melbourne’s Jewish community is reeling after two masked men set one of Australia’s busiest synagogues alight — built by Holocaust survivors in the 1950s — at about 4.10am on Friday, leaving some worshippers with burns and destroying millions of dollars worth of religious artefacts.
Fleeing worshippers were able to salvage some artefacts such as prayer shawls and Torahs — ancient handwritten parchment scrolls that hold deep historical meaning to the community.
Police assured the Jewish community that they would increase patrols around synagogues as the arson squad probes the attack.
In a powerful message to the Albanese government, Executive Council of Australian Jewry chief Alex Ryvchin called on the Prime Minister to “reflect on how it has come to this”, labelling the devastating attack “entirely predictable”.
“For over a year we have seen racist mobs impeding on the rights and freedoms of ordinary Australians,” he said.
“We have been locked out of parts of our cities because the police could not ensure our safety.
“Students have been told to stay away from campuses.”
Mr Ryvchin asked Anthony Albanese how under his leadership “a house of prayer has been burned” and “decent Australians now question whether they have a place in this country.”
Zionist Federation of Australia president Jeremy Leibler also said “no one should be surprised” by the violent attack as he urged “all levels of government to turn their words into actions”.
“Jew hatred, left unchecked, endangers all Australians,” he said.
Israel President Isaac Herzog on Friday called on Australian and world leaders to strongly condemn the “vile act of terror” on the Melbourne synagogue, declaring the rise of anti-Semitism had become “intolerable”.
In a phone call with the president of the Zionist Federation of Australia Jeremy Leibler, Mr Herzog said the people of Israel stood united with Melbourne’s Jewish community.
“I spoke this morning, with President of the Zionist Federation of Australia, @jeremyleibler, and expressed my deep sorrow and the support and solidarity of all the Israeli people for the Jewish community following the abhorrent anti-Semitic arson attack on the Adass Israel synagogue in Melbourne,” he said in a social media post.
“I was moved to hear how the entire community is standing united and strong in the face of this terrible attack and the wave of anti-Semitism they are experiencing.”
The Rabbinical Council of Victoria, which represents more than 70 rabbis, called on law enforcement and government leaders to ensure the perpetrators are jailed, increase protections and send a strong message that “these actions will not be tolerated in Australia”.
It comes just one week after the Sunday Herald Sun revealed anti-Semitic incidents had jumped by a staggering 316 per cent since Hamas’ October 7, and less than two weeks after a rabbi’s home was vandalised.
The Prime Minister, who has been facing growing pressure among Jewish leaders to ramp up his support for Israel amid the ongoing war in the Middle East, was quick to “unequivocally” condemn the arson attack early on Friday.
“This is clearly an act of anti-Semitism,” he said.
“It’s an attack on a place of worship, a synagogue … by definition, this is an act of hate and something that should not occur in Australia or anywhere else.”
Jacinta Allan pledges $100,000 to rebuild
Premier Jacinta Allan was heckled by Jewish community members as she addressed the media outside the synagogue on Friday, with some yelling “shame on you Jacinta”.
Ms Allan, who labelled the firebombing an “evil” and an “anti-Semitic attack”, pledged $100,000 to help rebuild the site.
“What else is an attack on a synagogue, other than an act of anti-Semitism?” she said.
Ms Allan refused to declare the arson a form of domestic terrorism, saying that was up to Victoria Police to determine.
The press conference was brought to an abrupt halt as members of the crowd, including Rebel News ‘citizen journalist’ Avi Yemini, began yelling at the Premier.
Before the conference, Ms Allan assured the community that “every available resource” was being deployed to hunt down the offenders.
“We stand with the Adass Israel congregation who are heartbroken,” she said.
“We stand with the entire Jewish community who have every right to go to shule, pray openly, and be proud of who they are — without fearing personal consequences.”
Former opposition leader, outgoing MP Bill Shorten, unlike Ms Allan, said the attack appeared to be an act of domestic terrorism.
“Without knowing who’s done it, if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it is,” he said.
“We don’t know every fact but it’s a synagogue that’s got burnt, it’s not a milk bar, it’s not a Christian church, or a mosque, it’s not a Hindu temple, it’s a Jewish place of worship.
“More has got to be done.”
Opposition leader John Pesutto called the attack an “abomination” while his federal counterpart Peter Dutton labelled it “absolutely abhorrent”.
A fundraiser to rebuild the synagogue had raised more than $115,000 on Friday night.
As state and federal police continued their hunt for the offenders last night, the Jewish community called a snap rally on Sunday in support of hundreds of heartbroken congregants from the Adass Israel Synagogue.
Owner of Yumi’s dips, Yumi Friedman, who was inside the synagogue at the time of the attack, suffered minor burns to his hands as he ran from the flames.
“I heard a loud bang and thought it was something outside,” he said.
“Then I heard another bang and it was glass shattering inside.”
Israel’s Ambassador to Australia Amir Maimon said the “heinous attack served as a chilling reminder that anti-Semitism is not arelic of the past but a growing threat that demands immediate actions, not empty words.”
Synagogue board member Benjamin Klein said an attack like this “shakes us to the core”.
“For the jewel in the crown to be burnt like that is horrendous,” he said.
PM condemns attack on synagogue
It comes after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese branded the arson attack on a Ripponlea synagogue as “clearly an act of anti-Semitism”.
Mr Albanese said he “unequivocally condemned” the attack and said the Australian Federal Police would be deployed to assist Victorian authorities with their investigation into the arson.
“It’s an attack on a place of worship, a synagogue … by definition, this is an act of hate and something that should not occur in Australia or anywhere else,” he told ABC Melbourne radio.
“I have zero tolerance for anti-Semitism. It has absolutely no place in Australia.
“This attack risked lives and is clearly aimed at creating fear in the community.”
Melbourne, Australia - Adass Israel synagogue allegedly firebombed
— Menachem Vorchheimer (@MenachemV) December 5, 2024
Synagogue significantly damaged
Community outraged, view as an act of terrorism
â¦@3AW693â© â¦@australianâ© â¦@theheraldsunâ© â¦@2GB873â© â¦@theageâ© â¦@AlboMPâ© â¦@PeterDutton_MPâ© pic.twitter.com/THEEK9k5gK
Pure Antisemitism this morning in Melbourne, Australia, where two suspected arsonists smashed windows at 4.10am and burnt down the Adass Israel Synagogue.
— NomiKal (@NomiKal) December 5, 2024
Time for Australian police to take a zero tolerance approach to antisemitism.
Adass is a non-Zionist Haredi synagogue. pic.twitter.com/7ZxpTKJ83E
Mr Albanese said he had been briefed by the AFP commissioner and said the offenders “must be caught and face the full force of the law”.
Arson and explosives squad Detective Inspector Chris Murray confirmed there would be an increased police presence in the community following the attack.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton called the arson attack “absolutely abhorrent”.
“I want to pretend this wasn’t expected but I can’t do that to the Australian people,” he said.
“Today, we should double down on our support for the Jewish community.”
‘They broke in and they set it alight’: Witnesses tell details
Synagogue board member Benjamin Klein said two people inside the synagogue heard banging on the door about 4.15am.
“They saw people throw liquid inside and light it on fire,” he said.
“The two guys had to run out the back door.
“One of them got burns on his hands.”
Mr Klein said hundreds of people would have been gathered at the synagogue by 5.30am.
“This synagogue is one of the busiest in Australia,” he said.
Mr Klein said an attack like this “shakes us to the core”.
“The synagogue is the centre of the community,” he said.
“For the jewel in the crown to be burnt like that is horrendous.
“This synagogue was built by Holocaust survivors and this just brings back terrible memories.”
We are horrified by the devastating fire at the Adass Synagogue in Ripponlea.
— David Southwick MP (@SouthwickMP) December 5, 2024
I have spoken with community leaders and Victoria Police—and a full investigation is now underway.
Anyone with information that could assist the investigation is urged to contact Victoria Police.
Jewish community member Michael told the Herald Sun his brother was studying inside at the time and was forced to run from the flames.
“The other man who was inside with him saw a man come in and set the fire,” he said.
“They broke in and they set it alight.”
Ultra orthodox community members often attend the synagogue in the early hours to study.
Michael said he was horrified by the incident but that his brother was not injured.
“It’s horrific,” he said.
Witnesses expressed disbelief as they gathered at the synagogue, performing their morning prayers on the street.
A neighbour who saw the fire from his bedroom window said the street was typically quiet and peaceful.
“I’ve never seen anything like this — it’s normally a quiet street with no commotion or danger,” he said.
“There’s no place for this in Australia.”
One synagogue member expressed concern not only for the Jewish community but for the wider Glen Eira area.
“We don’t need this, it’s hurting hundreds and hundreds of people,” they said.
‘What you have done is un-Australian’
Prominent religious leader Rabbi Gabi Kaltmann called the attack the “purest form of anti-Semitism”.
“Adass Israel has no political affiliation with Israel,” he said.
“The only reason why they were targeted is because they wear black hats and look like Jews.”
Rabbi Rabin said his office received calls this week by people accusing him of being a “genocidal baby killer” or saying, “Israel has no right to exist.”
“Words like ‘Israel is evil’, ‘Jews are baby killers,’ or ‘genocidal maniacs’ aren’t confined to the fringes — they’re becoming mainstream,” he said.
“I can tell you people are anxious, they’re scared and they’re frightened.”
“(The offenders are) just pure utter anti-Semites, you are a disgrace, what you have done is un-Australian,” he said.
Jewish community ‘needs clear answers’
Jewish MP David Southwick said the fire had “devastated Melbourne’s Jewish community and caused deep angst”.
“Amidst the worst levels of anti-Semitism in living memory, the community needs clear answers as soon as possible,” he said.
“I fully support Victoria Police to find those responsible and bring them to justice.”
Prominent Jewish leader Rabbi Daniel Rabin, whose Caulfield synagogue was targeted by activists this week, said the “Holocaust didn’t begin with gas chambers”.
“It began with words,” he said.
“The Nazis depicted Jews as subhuman, dangerous, and the source of all the world’s problems.”
Mr Southwick called for tougher consequences for those who commit hate crimes.
“We need more than words. We need action from all governments,” he said.
“This today is an absolute disgrace. Where are the consequences?”
Federal Jewish MP Josh Burns, who represents the Victorian seat of Macnamara, slammed the attack as a “disgrace” and “extremely dangerous”.
“The rise in anti-Semitism in Australia is shocking, and it needs to stop,” he said.
“I hope those injured make a full recovery. And may those who committed this crime feel the full force of the law.”
Mr Burns’ office was subject to an arson attack in June.
Mr Pesutto also visited the scene on Friday afternoon and spoke with members of the Jewish community.
He said an example needed to be set in the courts.
“I want to distress my utter disgust at the perpetrators of the violence we’ve seen here,” he said.
“We need to make sure when these acts of violence occur that there are prosecutions that follow and that people are brought to justice.
“This level of violence will not be tolerated.”
Victorian Equality Minister Harriet Shing said she was “heartbroken for Jewish communities, not just across Melbourne or around Australia, but around the world”.
“People are right to be angry. And the anguish and the grief that is being felt is well understood and shared.
“We are determined to wrap our arms around the Jewish community.”
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