Firebombing of Jewish Synagogue Declared a ‘Terrorist Incident’

Messages and flowers are seen attached to the fence at the Adass Israel Synagogue in the Melbourne suburb of Ripponlea in Australia on Dec. 9, 2024. Martin Keep/AFP via Getty Images

Victorian Police and the Australian Federal Police (AFP) have declared the firebombing of a Melbourne synagogue an act of terror.

“This is now a terrorism investigation,” said AFP Deputy Commissioner for National Security Krissy Barrett during a joint press conference on Dec. 9 attended by the prime minister, attorney-general, and heads of the country’s law enforcement.

There has been an ongoing push from the federal opposition and Jewish groups to declare the arson attack on Dec. 6 a terror incident, meaning law enforcement will have a wider array of powers to investigate.

These include the power 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.

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton defended the time taken to acknowledge the motive of the crime.

“Based on the assessment at the time of having a crime scene, albeit in a circumstance and on a synagogue, it was not believed to be sufficient to establish the threshold for a terrorist attack to be declared,” he told reporters.

“We’ve investigated over the weekend, we’ve had significant progress.”

The investigation will now be transferred to the Joint Counter Terrorism Team, comprised of members from the state and federal police, as well as intelligence agency, ASIO.

Damage is seen following a firebombing at the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne, Australia on Dec. 9, 2024. AAP Image/Yumi Rosenbaum

New Taskforce to Deal with Antisemitism

Alongside the Joint Terrorism Team, the AFP will also lead Special Operation Avalite for Antisemitism to deal specifically with threats and violence towards the Australian Jewish community.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton had earlier in the day pledged a similar “antisemitism taskforce.”

Avalite comprises 21 police and analysts and will deal with incidents related to advocating terrorism, genocide, violence, or making threats.

“I want to assure the Jewish community that the AFP will continue to provide capability and resources to state and territory police,” AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw said.

“But from today the AFP will take a greater role. The AFP will not tolerate crimes that undermine Australia’s security or our way of life.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the taskforce had been established in the wake of what is the third arson attack targeting the Jewish community.

Members of the Jewish community read messages attached to the fence at the Adass Israel Synagogue in the Melbourne suburb of Ripponlea in Australia on Dec. 9, 2024. Martin Keep/AFP via Getty Images

Earlier this year, the office of Jewish Labor MP Josh Burns was set on fire, and just a few weeks ago, several cars in a Jewish neighbourhood were vandalised with one set alight.

“Antisemitism is a major threat and antisemitism has been on the rise,” Albanese said.

“And we have seen incidents such as this that have been targeted specifically at the Jewish community.”

A day earlier, the federal Labor government committed $32.5 million to the overarching Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) to enhance security at synagogues and Jewish schools, including surveillance cameras, alarm systems, security monitoring, and guards.

Community tensions have been high since the Oct. 7 Hamas surprise terror attack on Israel that claimed over 1,200 lives and hundreds of hostages. Israel’s government responded with military strikes against Hamas targets, leading the Hamas-linked Gaza Health Ministry to claim tens of thousands of deaths.

Israelis and Palestinians have held events around the world commemorating the fallen.

‘Highest Level of Antisemitism’ in a Lifetime: AG

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus, who is Jewish, said the government had been resolute in its standing with the community.

“We’ve experienced in Australia in the last year the highest level of antisemitism that I’ve experienced in my lifetime,” he told reporters.

“That’s a common reaction from members of the Australian Jewish community. It’s been growing over the course of the year.”

TOPSHOT - A member of the Jewish community attaches an Australian national flag to the front of the damaged Adass Israel Synagogue in the Melbourne suburb of Ripponlea in Australia on Dec. 9, 2024. Martin Keep/AFP via Getty Images

Jewish Association Backs ‘Terror’ Level

Australian Jewish Association CEO Robert Gregory said he supported the terrorism categorisation.

“We support the ’terrorism' designation although there are questions about why it took so long to make,” he told The Epoch Times.

“We have been warning the government about the heightened risk of terrorism for some time.”

ASIO Says Terror Threat Level ‘Probable’

The chief of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), Director General Mike Burgess, said his agency had warned of a 50 percent chance of a terror attack on Australian soil within 12 months.

“The national terrorism threat level remains at probable,” he said.

“Sadly, this appalling incident appears to embody the ugly dynamics that ASIO has been warning about.

“Politically motivated violence is now one of ASIO’s and this country’s, principal security concerns.”

Burgess said politically motivated violence encompassed terrorism, but was a broader category covering any act intended to achieve a political objective.

“Australia’s security environment is volatile and unpredictable,” he said.

“Anti-authority beliefs continue to grow. Grievances are spreading. Provocative, inflammatory language are being normalised.

“And let me close by repeating what I said after the 7 October Hamas terrorist attack: inflamed language leads to inflamed tension and can lead to violence. So, we all need to watch our words.”

The Incident

The blaze occurred on the morning of the weekly Jewish holiday of Shabbat.

Two members of the ultra-orthodox synagogue had been inside at the time preparing for morning prayers.

Five Torah scrolls, hand-written and took years to complete, could not be salvaged, according to Jewish Community Council of Victoria CEO Naomi Levin.

“We have ensured that we have increased police in the areas, increased visibility, and making sure that we’re out and about at synagogues, at other places of worship, at places of significance to the Jewish community,” Victoria Police’s Patton said.

Police are also following up reports a bullet was found near the Adass Israel synagogue on Glen Eira Road the day after the attack. Police are hunting three suspects, and have not ruled out the possibility of foreign influence.

Victorian Premier Considers Banning Protests

Victorian Labor Premier Jacinta Allan said her government would seek advice on new laws to ban protests outside places of worship—citing similar laws to protect abortion services.

“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.

“There are a range of options that are available to us—one example that I can point to is the arrangements we’ve had in Victoria for some time now around making sure that women accessing termination services are provided—they’re able to get that health treatment and that health support free from being heckled and protested.”

Joint Call for Action From Liberal, Labor MPs

At the weekend, former Jewish Australian Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and former Labor Senator Nova Peris both called on Albanese to step up against antisemitism in Australia.

“Every single day, Australian Jews are being intimidated and harassed on our streets, in their workplaces and on our campuses,” Frydenberg said.

“Young Jewish Australians now feel unsafe to show and identify with their faith publicly.”

Meanwhile, Peris said the incidents impacted Australia’s image globally.

“I cannot stand the hatred against Jewish people in this country,” Peris said.

“I’m so disgusted in how this country is being portrayed to the rest of the world.”