Qld man charged over threats to Jewish community in Victoria

The man’s mobile phone was seized before he was charged by counter-terrorism detectives with allegedly threatening a Jewish community.

A man allegedly made verbal threats to a Jewish community centre in Victoria over social media.

Counter-Terrorism Investigation Group (CTIG) detectives have charged a Queensland man following an investigation into threats made via social media towards a Jewish community centre in Victoria.

A 52-year-old from Holland Park in the Queensland Yarraman State Forest was arrested on Saturday night.

His mobile phone was seized before he was charged with using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence.

A man allegedly made threats to a Jewish community centre in a social media post. Picture: iStock.

At this stage he isn’t believed to have been involved with the arson of the Adass Israel Synagogue in Ripponlea on Friday, with these threats part of a separate investigation.

The 52-year-old is set to front the Nanango Magistrates Court on January 16.

Victoria Police confirmed the alleged threats were not connected to the synagogue fire in Ripponlea on December 6.

“Following the report of the incident, Victoria Police worked closely with police from other jurisdictions to progress the investigation,” a police statement said.

“There is nothing to indicate this incident is linked to the synagogue fire in Ripponlea and the investigation into that matter remains ongoing.”

Victoria Police continues to assist the Queensland investigation into the alleged threat of criminal damage to a community centre in Caulfield.

The Adass Israel Synagogue in Ripponlea was firebombed on Friday. Picture: NewsWire/ Andrew Henshaw

The attack is being treated as a terrorist offence. Picture: NewsWire/ Andrew Henshaw

A Queensland Police spokesperson issued a reminder that instances of serious vilification and hate crime were now a criminal matter.

“Everyone in Queensland has a right to feel safe and the QPS remains committed to community safety and engaging with people from across our culturally diverse society to help foster relationships and build upon platforms for community engagement,” the spokesperson said.

“Where instances of hate or vilification are reported to police, investigations will be undertaken to prosecute those responsible.”