Adass fire declared likely terrorism
An arson on a prominent synagogue is likely a terror attack, police have declared, as governments look to increase protections for worshippers.
Victoria and Australian Federal police on Monday made the classification after the Adass Israel Synagogue attack at Ripponlea in Melbourne’s southeast on Friday, a few weeks before the Jewish festival of Chanukah.
The investigation will now transition to the Joint Counter Terrorism Team made up of state and federal police, and ASIO officers.
“This is likely to be a politically motivated attack. This is now a terrorism investigation,” AFP Deputy Commissioner for National Security, Krissy Barrett told reporters.
The declaration opens up a raft of extra powers for investigators, including the ability to stop, search and seize people without a warrant as well as detain and question those they believe have knowledge of, or links to, the attack.
Police are looking for three suspects.
Victoria’s Chief Commissioner Shane Patton defended the decision to not declare the attack a terrorist incident sooner.
“It was not believed to be sufficient to establish the threshold for a terrorist attack to be declared,” he said.
“We’ve investigated over the weekend, we’ve had significant progress.”
Police don’t have any intelligence to suggest attacks could occur at other synagogues but patrols have ramped up in parts of Melbourne’s southeast.
He said the suspects could be considered flight risks but would not confirm if they were known to police.
Two of the synagogue’s three buildings were gutted in the fire that erupted in the early hours of Friday.
Two people who were inside at the time preparing for morning prayers escaped, with one suffering minor injuries.
Speaking alongside Mr Patton and Ms Barrett, Premier Jacinta Allan described Friday’s blaze as “one of the most evil acts we’ve seen”.
She said the government may introduce laws to protect people going to places of worship.
“I’m seeking initial advice on how we can strengthen the laws around making sure that people going to church, going to synagogues, going to mosques can do so safely,” she said.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton visited the synagogue and community days after the attack. (Con Chronis/AAP PHOTOS)
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday announced a special taskforce to tackle anti-Semitic attacks given the fire is the third arson within months – following federal Labor MP Josh Burns’ office being set alight and a car fire in Sydney.
If elected in 2025, the coalition will set up an AFP-led anti-Semitism taskforce to investigate historic complaints dating back to October 7, 2023 when Hamas launched an attack on Israel which in turn led to the ongoing Gaza war, and deport people on visas who display anti-Semitic behaviour.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton visited the synagogue today, He said: “This is obviously now a terrorist attack, as has been acknowledged eventually by the Prime Minister, and I want to thank the authorities here in Victoria, as well as the Australian Federal Police and others, who will be working day and night to bring the people to account for this atrocious act.
When you hear of the impact on young children, elderly parents within the community, it truly is an abomination. How do you explain to a seven or eight-year-old Jewish child that their place of worship is attacked in this way? How do you explain to them that there are armed guards at their school protecting them from a similar attack? I think we all need to come together and make sure that we can call out evil where we see it, and this really is evil.”
At the synagogue, charred Torahs and papers are strewn across the wreckage of the building built by Holocaust survivors.
Congregants told AAP if the Torahs could not be saved, they would be buried and in the meantime they were gathering at another venue.
One member, who only wanted to be known as Sam, said keeping the community together was important as it provided a source of strength for those affected by the firebombing.
“It’s just, it’s really sad. We’ve lost our place, we’ve lost our place, our home,” he told AAP.
“It was my home. I was literally here all day.”
All said they plan on rebuilding despite the cost.
Jewish Community Council of Victoria CEO Naomi Levin said she had been told five Torah scrolls, handwritten copies of the book of Moses used during prayers, won’t be salvaged.
Police are also investigating reports of a bullet found on a footpath near the synagogue in Glen Eira Road on Saturday afternoon.
The Jewish Community Council of Victoria has reacted to the news that the devastation at the Adass Israel synagogue was the work of politically motivated terrorists.
They have thanked Victoria Police and other law enforcement agencies for their efforts so far.
In a statements JCCV said: “We urge them to expedite their investigation and arrest the three suspects to protect our community.
The past few days have been traumatic and exhausting for many. We urge anyone needing additional support to contact Hatzolah for free counselling services. Outside the Jewish community, support services, listed below, are also available.
Chevra Hatzolah Melbourne [email protected] 8534 0100
Australian Jewish Psychologists www.jccm.org.au/psychological-support
Lifeline Australia 13 11 14
Jewish Care Victoria 8517 5999
Resources for Coping After a Crisis www.redcross.org.au/emergencies/coping-after-a-crisis/
In partnership with Victoria Police, CSG is providing the necessary protection to ensure people going to Jewish schools, synagogues and other Jewish facilities can do so safely.
We are shocked and hurt, but we must show strength and continue living proud Jewish lives.”
The synagogue remains closed to the public.
By: Kaitlyn Offer, Holly Hales and Melissa Meehan with J-Wire
