Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has reacted after two separate incidents were reported at a synagogue and an Israeli restaurant in Melbourne on Friday night.
Per 9News, the first attack took place at around 8pm in East Melbourne when an unknown man entered the grounds of a synagogue located on Albert Street.
Police said the man poured flammable liquid at the front door of the religious building before setting it alight and fleeing the scene.
20 people were reportedly inside the synagogue having a Shabbat dinner, but everyone managed to evacuate from the back of the building. No injuries were reported.
Later, Victoria Police Commander Zorka Dunstan ruled out terrorism at this stage of the investigation but said the arson attack was being treated very seriously.
“At this stage, we are not declaring this a terrorist incident. We will determine the intent of the persons involved to determine if it is terrorism,” Dunstan said per 9News.
Meanwhile, in a separate incident, police responded after an Israeli restaurant on Hardware Street in Melbourne’s CBD was stormed and trashed by a group of 20 protestors.
Diners at the restaurant, called Miznon, reported hearing the group chanting “death to the IDF” as well as throwing food and chairs and knocking over tables.
One 28-year-old was arrested at the time, with Dunstan saying the group had peeled away from a larger protest that was happening in the CBD.
In the aftermath, Albanese has today shared a statement addressing the “shocking acts” and pledging federal support for Victorian authorities.
“Those responsible for these shocking acts must face the full force of the law and my government will provide all necessary support toward this effort,” the prime minister said per The Guardian.
Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said in a social media post this morning that the incidents were “horrifying” and have “no place in Australia”.
It is the second synagogue blaze to have taken place in Melbourne in as many years, with the Adass Israel Synagogue in Ripponlea also subject to an arson attack in December 2024.
At the time, Albanese described that attack as “un-Australian” and said it qualified as an act of terrorism from “my personal perspective”.
Lead images: Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images and 9News
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