Attempted synagogue firebombing no act of terror, say police

Police reveal a third anti-Semitic incident has occurred in Melbourne, as they stop short of declaring the attempted firebombing of a synagogue a terrorist attack – despite confirming it was a targeted act that endangered 20 worshippers.

Rabbi Gutnick talks with Dvir Abramovich, chair of the Aniti Defimation Commission, at the Synagogue in East Melbourne where a fire was lit at the doorway last night. Picture: David Crosling/ NewsWire

Victoria Police have revealed a third anti-Semitic incident occurred in Melbourne on Saturday, as they stopped short of declaring the attempted firebombing of a synagogue a terrorist attack – despite confirming it was a targeted act that endangered 20 worshippers.

Addressing the media after releasing CCTV images of the suspected arsonist, Commander Zorka Dunstan said investigators were now examining three separate incidents, all under the scrutiny of the Counter-terrorism Command and local detectives.

The first, and most serious, was the deliberate arson attack on the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation, where an unknown man allegedly poured a flammable liquid over the front doors and set them alight around 8.05pm Friday.

Twenty people inside the synagogue for a Shabbat dinner were forced to evacuate through a rear exit. No injuries were reported, but police confirmed the building’s entrance was significantly damaged.

“I’d like to make it very clear that we do recognise that these crimes are disgusting and abhorrent, but at this stage we are not declaring this a terrorist incident,” Commander Dunstan said.

“In the course of our investigation we will examine the intent and ideology of the person involved to determine if this is in fact terrorism. At the moment we are categorising it as a serious criminal incident and responding accordingly.”

The second incident occurred in Melbourne’s CBD, when a splinter group of pro-Palestinian protesters from a broader “No Police at Protest” rally stormed Miznon, an Israeli-owned restaurant on Hardware Lane, and disrupted diners.

Staff clean graffiti and tomatoes at Miznon after a group of anti-Israel activists targeted the restaurant chanting "death to the IDF". Picture: NewsWire/Nadir Kinani

Police arrived quickly and moved the demonstrators on. A 28-year-old Footscray man was arrested for hindering police and later released on summons.

A third, previously unreported incident occurred at 4.30am Saturday at a Greensborough business on Para Road, where three cars were set alight and spray-painted with graffiti. One vehicle was destroyed; the others were damaged.

“That business has been subject to some pro-Palestinian activity in the past, and that’s why we’ve made that connection at this time,” Commander Dunstan said.

“In saying that, we haven’t made a full connection. We’re just continuing to investigate, and we thought we’d just bring it to your attention at this time.

All three incidents are being reviewed for potential links by detectives and counterterrorism authorities.

Suspect image released

An image of the attempted synagogue firebombing suspect, captured just before 8pm on Friday night, shows a man walking past the synagogue’s front gate holding what appears to be a dark duffle bag.

“The man depicted is perceived as being Caucasian in appearance, is believed to be aged in his 30s with a beard and long hair,” police said in a statement.

“He is pictured wearing a dark blue or black jumper, black pants and a black beanie.”

Twenty people were inside having a Shabbat dinner on Friday at the time of the attack, while in a separate incident a group of keffiyeh-wearing protesters stormed a Jewish-owned restaurant in the CBD.

Police have released an image of the synagogue arson suspect.

“Everyone inside self-evacuated through the rear of the building and there have been no reports of injuries,” Victoria Police said in a statement.

“Firefighters attended and extinguished the fire which was contained to the front entrance.

“Police are still working to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the fire including the motivation behind the incident. An arson chemist will be attending the scene and police are currently canvassing for CCTV footage.”

‘Death to the IDF’: Jewish-owned restaurant targeted

Less than 2km from the synagogue, in a separate incident, a group of about 20 anti-Israel activists targeted Miznon restaurant in Hardware Lane reportedly chanting “death to the IDF”.

Victoria Police said a 28-year-old had been arrested at the restaurant for “hindering police”.

Miznon is a global restaurant chain, spearheaded by Israeli celebrity chef Eyal Shani and his business partner Shachar Segal.

US media last week reported Mr Segal was working as a spokesman for Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, the American-backed organisation distributing aid in Gaza.

A witness told the Herald Sun that a group arrived at the restaurant with: “their drums and their mic and stuff saying Miznon is not welcome here”.

“Then they started getting aggressive throwing tomatoes, chairs, and glasses,” he said.

“They caused lots of damage to the businesses down here.”

Pro-Palestinian thugs target Israeli restaurant in Melbourne, Miznon. The violence in Melbourne by Pro-Palestinian terror supporters is at dangerous levels. pic.twitter.com/Src7QAPedk

— David Hollyoake 🎗️ (@Holly_Da) July 4, 2025

In the days leading up to Friday’s protest, social media posts in pro-Palestinian groups had encouraged people to “boycott Miznon”.

In a statement, Victoria Police said it was “disappointed with the actions of protesters” in the CBD on Friday night.

“Approximately 70 protesters gathered in Swanston Street at 5.30pm protesting the need for police presence at public demonstrations,” a spokesperson said.

“At about 8.15pm a group of about 20 protesters then walked to a restaurant on Hardware Lane where members of the public were enjoying their evening.

“The group then began shouting offensive chants.”

Police rushed to the restaurant and “quickly directed protesters to leave”.

“A 28-year-old person from Footscray was arrested for hindering police and has been released on summons,” the police statement said.

“Several other protesters were spoken to by police and had their identities clarified for the purpose of follow up investigation.”

Police have urged witnesses to provide phone and CCTV footage to investigators.

‘Hate crime’: Frydenberg responds

Josh Frydenberg called the alleged firebombing a “hate crime”.

The former Liberal treasurer, who spearheaded calls to label the firebombing of the Israel Adass Synagogue as a terrorist attack, said targeting a place of worship and Jewish restaurants was simply a hate crime.

“When you firebomb a synagogue with people inside & attack a local restaurant because it’s owned by Jews, it’s NOT about Israel, it’s NOT about protest, it’s a hate crime,” Mr Frydenberg wrote on X.

“Violent anti-Semitism is a threat to us all & until it’s called out for what it really is, it will continue!”

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said the synagogue firebombing had “no place in Victoria”.

“Any attack on a place of worship is an act of hate, and any attack on a Jewish place of worship is an act of anti-Semitism,” Ms Allan said.

“This is disgraceful behaviour by a pack of cowards,” she said.

“That this happened on Shabbat makes it all the more abhorrent.”

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley described the attacks as “horrifying”.

“This is not protest,” she wrote on social media platform X. “This is hate. And it has no place in Australia.”

Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin described the events as “a severe escalation directed towards our community and clear evidence that the anti-Semitism crisis is not only continuing, but getting worse”.

Alex Ryvchin has called for ‘the full force of the law’ to confront the anti-Semitism crisis. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“We urge all sides of politics and all Australians to condemn these deplorable crimes.

“Those who chant for death are not peace activists. Those who would burn houses of prayer with families inside do not seek an end to war. There is a violent ideology at work in our country that operates on the fringes of politics and social movements, that taps into anger and prejudice, and smirks as businesses are destroyed, lives are threatened and proud, patriotic Australians experience fear in their own homes and their own streets.

“Those responsible cannot be reasoned with or appeased. They must be confronted with the full force of the law.”

Dr Dvir Abramovich, chair of the Anti-Defamation Commission, said Friday’s attack was an act of terror.

“On Friday night, someone tried to burn Jews alive in their house of worship,” he said.

“This was terrorism. A synagogue, one of the oldest in the country, was deliberately set on fire while Jewish families were eating together.

“Had the flames reached further, we would be counting bodies, not blessings. Minutes later, a gang of masked rioters stormed an Israeli restaurant. They came armed with hatred and chairs, chanting “Death to the IDF” as they smashed windows and terrorised diners.

“Children screamed. Glass shattered. Melbourne, for one night, stopped being a safe place for Jews.”

Calling on Australian leaders to swiftly condemn the ant-Semitic attack, Dr Abramovich said there was a “sickness spreading in our streets”.

Dr Dvir Abramovich, chair of the Anti-Defamation Commission. Picture: Josie Hayden

“It wears masks. It carries drums. It chants for death. And on Friday night, it lit a match,” he said.

“We are not asking for sympathy; we want action, we want justice, we want protection.

“Not next week. Not after the next attack. Now. And to those who set the fire, who threw the chairs, who cheered from the sidelines know this: You have not weakened us. You have awakened us .. and we will not be silent as the flames climb higher.”

Attempted arson at East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation, minimal damage to the front door and no injuries reported. More photos to come soon. pic.twitter.com/6VTTXrXooU

— josh_stanyer_photography (@josh_stanyer) July 4, 2025

‘Death to the IDF’: Israeli-owned restaurant targeted

‘Enough is enough’

In a statement condemning the synagogue attack, the Jewish Community Council of Victoria said the community “would not be intimidated”.

“East Melbourne Synagogue, a synagogue that has stood on the outskirts of Melbourne’s CBD for more than 150 years, has been attacked,” the statement read.

“We cannot say it any louder or any more, enough is enough.

“We are strong and courageous and proud of who we are as Jewish Australians.”

Friday’s arson comes months after the Adass Israel Synagogue at Ripponlea was firebombed. Counter-terrorism police in June executed raids across Melbourne’s northern suburbs as part of its months-long probe into the potential terrorist attack.

Victorian Liberal MP David Southwick said the Jewish community “deserves protection, not platitudes”.

“A second arson attack on a synagogue in Melbourne, this time on the Sabbath along with a Jewish restaurant in the CBD,” he said in a statement.

“The silence from our leaders is deafening. The Jewish community deserves protection, not platitudes.

“Enough talk. The perpetrators and organisers must be found and brought to justice. My thoughts are with every member of the Jewish community affected by these vile attacks.

“We cannot let these haters hijack our streets, our city, or our state. We must stand united against anti-Semitic violence.”