AP, MELBOURNE, Australia
Arsonists extensively damaged a Melbourne synagogue yesterday in what Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned as an anti-Semitic attack on Australian values.
The blaze in the Adass Israel Synagogue is an escalation in targeted attacks in Australia since the war began between Israel and Hamas last year.
Cars and buildings have been vandalized and torched around Australia in protests inspired by the war.
Fire damage to the Adass Israel Synagogue in Ripponlea, Melbourne, Australia, is photographed yesterday.
Photo: EPA-EFE
A witness who had come to the synagogue to pray saw two masked men spreading a liquid accelerant with brooms inside the building at 4:10am, officials said.
About 60 firefighters with 17 fire trucks responded to the blaze, which police said caused extensive damage.
Investigators have yet to identify a motive, but Albanese blamed antisemitism.
“This was a shocking incident to be unequivocally condemned. There is no place in Australia for an outrage such as this,” Albanese told reporters.
“To attack a place of worship is an attack on Australian values. To attack a synagogue is an act of antisemitism, is attacking the right that all Australians should have to practice their faith in peace and security,” he added.
Israeli Ambassador to Australia Amir Maimon cited how dozens of pro-Palestinian activists staged a three-hour protest outside The Great Synagogue in downtown Sydney on Wednesday, demanding sanctions against Israel.
Worshippers were prevented from leaving the synagogue during the demonstration.
“We are talking about the values you expect Australians to follow, not my own values. And for me it’s clear that everyone should have the right to worship his own religion, own beliefs, as long as they also respect others,” Maimon said.
A religious leader at the torched mosque, Rabbi Gabi Kaltmann, described the arsonists as “thugs.”
“Tonight is the Sabbath. We must all go and find a sense of calmness, comradery and community by gathering for the Sabbath tonight and praying together as one community,” he told reporters outside the synagogue.
Australian federal law in January banned the Nazi salute and the public display of Nazi symbols in response to growing antisemitism.
