An arson attack on one of Australia’s busiest synagogues has been declared a “likely” terrorist attack by Victorian and federal police.
The formal declaration means the investigation is now in the hands of the joint counter-terrorism team, which can access new sweeping detention, search and surveillance powers.
Inside the Adass Israel Synagogue after the attack.
It comes as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the formation of a federal police antisemitism taskforce following several antisemitic attacks in Sydney and Melbourne, including the synagogue arson attack, the Woollahra vandalism incident in November, and the defacing of Jewish MP Josh Burns’ office in June.
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton said a special law enforcement committee involving the Australian Federal Police had met on Monday and determined the attack was “likely a terrorist incident”.
“Based on that [advice], I am very confident that we now have had a terrorist attack on that synagogue, and that is why we are transitioning that as a terrorist incident to the joint counter-terrorism team for investigation,” Patton announced at a press conference.
He declined to provide specifics about the investigation, except that three suspects were being sought over the fire that destroyed much of the Adass Israel Synagogue in Ripponlea, in Melbourne’s south-east, early on Friday.
Premier Jacinta Allan, who attended the press conference, said the formal terror declaration meant additional powers and resources for those investigating the attack, which she described as “one of the most evil acts we’ve seen”.
“We’re here today as a consequence of one of the most evil acts we’ve seen, one of the most evil acts [of antisemitism] and now, as has been determined by the policing agencies, a likely act of terrorism,” Allan said.
“This has to come to an end. We cannot let this conflict overseas continue to be a cloak for behaviour like that here.
“We’ll continue to do everything we can to hold and support the Jewish community, through policing efforts, through legal efforts, but also through leadership.”
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan on Monday, with Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton and AFP Deputy Comissioner Krissy Barrett.Credit: Eddie Jim
Albanese, when announcing the new antisemitism taskforce, said: “Our world-class agencies will provide all the support necessary to find the perpetrators and ensure they face the full force of the law.”
The specialist joint counter-terrorism team was called in after new information developed at the weekend that upgraded the arson attack to meet the threshold for a terrorist incident.
“The intelligence that has been gained from that joint management committee meeting has recommended that their belief is that this is likely a terrorist incident that has occurred,” Patton said.
“We are treating this as a terrorist attack.”
Patton said police had no evidence to suggest there would be further terror attacks, but would not rule anything out.
“We have between 20 and 30 extra police officers deployed in those areas where there are high numbers of Jewish persons living and congregating. We have our public audit response teams there, we have high visibility police presence,” he said.
Dr John Coyne, head of strategic policing at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, said it was “pretty stock standard” that law enforcement authorities were refusing to discuss the specifics of the investigation.
“You’re not going to prejudice an investigation or a prosecution on the basis of comment by media, and I guess that’s also a message clearly here for politicians and others that it’s not particularly helpful to over-politicise this,” he said. “Now is the time to allow law enforcement intelligence agencies to undertake an investigation free from political commentary.
“[The designation that it is a terrorist incident] also means that moving from being a hate crime or a crime to a potentially terrorist incident that allows ASIO to become involved in the investigation process, and along with that, all the powers that ASIO has.”
Australian Lawyers Alliance spokesman Greg Barns, SC, said it was important to avoid trial by public opinion or media in these situations.
“The media, politicians and lobby groups must let police go about their investigation without inflammatory commentary and an assumption that anyone charged, if that happens, is guilty,” he said. “We have seen this too often in terrorism investigations.”
Barns cautioned against making the same mistakes as during the case of Mohammed Haneef, who was “falsely accused of a terrorism offence in 2007 and subjected to appalling prejudicial media”.
On Monday, state Opposition Leader John Pesutto and deputy Liberal leader David Southwick – the most senior Jewish parliamentarian – called for parliament to be recalled next week so it could pass the Allan government’s proposed laws to protect places of worship from protests.
They said the sitting could also be used to enact stronger move-on powers for police.
A spokesperson for the Allan government – which said it had put aside its earlier reluctance to support the idea late on Sunday – said it would consult to ensure the laws were “appropriate and fit for purpose”.
Southwick reiterated calls for a state-based antisemitism taskforce, first made in June.
“There’s no time for a holiday. The time for action is now,” he said.
“Let’s not wait until the new year, and potentially for another incident to happen. Let’s act now.”
At Monday’s press conference, Patton said an old and damaged .22 calibre bullet found several hours after the fire on a footpath near the synagogue appeared to have nothing to do with the terror attack.
Members of Melbourne’s Adass Israel community vowed at Sunday’s solidarity gathering to restore the “jewel in the crown” by rebuilding their firebombed synagogue.
Congregants were forced to flee on Friday as fire engulfed the Glen Eira Avenue synagogue. The arsonists poured flammable liquid on the floor before they were disturbed by a congregant.
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