DNYUZ
  • Home
  • News
    • U.S.
    • World
    • Politics
    • Opinion
    • Business
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Science
  • Entertainment
    • Culture
    • Music
    • Movie
    • Television
    • Theater
    • Gaming
    • Sports
  • Tech
    • Apps
    • Autos
    • Gear
    • Mobile
    • Startup
  • Lifestyle
    • Arts
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health
    • Travel
No Result
View All Result
DNYUZ
No Result
View All Result
Home News World Asia

Congregation flees after arsonist sets fire to an Australian synagogue door

July 5, 2025
in Asia, Australia, News
Congregation flees after arsonist sets fire to an Australian synagogue door
495
SHARES
1.4k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — An arsonist set fire to the door of a Melbourne synagogue and forced the congregation to flee on Friday, seven months after criminals destroyed a in the same Australian city with an accelerant-fueled blaze that left a worshipper injured.

A man doused the double front doors of the downtown East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation and set it alight around 8 p.m., a police statement said on Saturday. Around 20 worshippers sharing a meal to mark the Shabbat Jewish day of rest evacuated through a rear door and no one was injured, police said.

Fire fighters extinguished the blaze which was contained to the front entrance, police.

Antisemitic attacks roil Australia since 2023

has roiled Australia since the Oct. 7, 2023, assault on Israel triggered the war in Gaza.

Jewish and Muslim organizations and hate researchers have recorded drastic spikes in hate-fueled incidents on both groups. The Australian government last year appointed special envoys to combat antisemitism and Islamophobia in the community.

Last December, two masked men struck the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne’s southeast. They caused extensive damage by spreading a liquid accelerant with brooms throughout the building before igniting it. A worshipper sustained minor burns.

No charges have been laid for that attack, which Prime Minister

The Victorian Joint Counter-Terrorism Team, which includes Victoria state police, federal police and Australia’s main domestic spy agency, said the fire was likely a politically-motivated attack.

Police say synagogue attack is a serious crime

Acting Victoria Police Commander Zorka Dunstan described the latest synagogue fire as a serious crime. Police released a CCTV image of a suspect.

“I’d like to make it very clear that we do recognize that these crimes are disgusting and abhorrent. But at this stage, we are not declaring this a terrorist incident,” Dunstan told reporters.

“In the course of our investigation, we will examine the intent and the ideology of the persons involved, or person, to determine if this is in fact terrorism. At the moment, we are categorizing it as a serious criminal incident and responding accordingly,” she added.

A terrorism declaration opens the investigation to more resourcing and can result in charges that carry longer prison sentences.

The synagogue’s president, Danny Segal, called for the wider Australian community to stand with his congregation.

“We’re here to be in peace, you know, we’re here for everybody to live together and we’ve got a fresh start in Australia, such a beautiful country, and what they’re doing is just not fair and not right, and as Australians, we should stand up and everybody should stand up,” Segal told reporters.

Protesters harass diners in Israeli-owned restaurant

Also in downtown Melbourne on Friday night, around 20 masked protesters harassed diners in an Israeli-owned restaurant. A Miznon restaurant window was broken. A 28-year-old woman was arrested for hindering police.

Anti-Defamation Commission chair Dvir Abramovich, a leading opponent of antisemitism in Australia, said diners were terrorized as the group chanted “Death to the IDF,” referring to the Israel Defense Forces.

“Melbourne, for one night, stopped being a safe place for Jews,” Abramovich said.

Melbourne Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece condemned both the synagogue and restaurant incidents.

“These criminal acts against a Melbourne synagogue and an Israeli business are absolutely shocking,” Reece said. “All of us as a community need to stand up against it.”

Victoria Premier Jacinta Allan said both incidents were designed to “traumatize Jewish families.”

“Any attack on a place of worship is an act of hate, and any attack on a Jewish place of worship is an act of antisemitism,” she said in a statement.

The post Congregation flees after arsonist sets fire to an Australian synagogue door appeared first on Associated Press.

Share198Tweet124Share
Bill Maher confronts Dr. Phil on joining Trump admin’s ‘unpopular’ ICE raids
News

Bill Maher confronts Dr. Phil on joining Trump admin’s ‘unpopular’ ICE raids

by Fox News
August 9, 2025

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! “Real Time” host Bill Maher abruptly put his guest Dr. Phil in ...

Read more
News

Cincinnati viral beating bodycam shows cops at scene of brutal fight as six arrested face new charges

August 9, 2025
News

ICE Deported Him. His Father Heard Nothing for Months. Then, a Call.

August 9, 2025
News

How Ali Sethi Spends His Day Getting Ready for a Music Tour

August 9, 2025
News

LAX travelers potentially exposed to positive measles case

August 9, 2025
Zelensky Rejects Trump’s Suggestion That Ukraine Swap Territory With Russia

Zelensky Rejects Trump’s Suggestion That Ukraine Swap Territory With Russia

August 9, 2025
Arizona adds $5M to program that helps 1st-time homebuyers

Arizona adds $5M to program that helps 1st-time homebuyers

August 9, 2025
MMA star’s miracle faith awakening: Ben Askren finds Christ after defying death by surviving double lung transplant

MMA star’s miracle faith awakening: Ben Askren finds Christ after defying death by surviving double lung transplant

August 9, 2025

Copyright © 2025.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • U.S.
    • World
    • Politics
    • Opinion
    • Business
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Science
  • Entertainment
    • Culture
    • Gaming
    • Music
    • Movie
    • Sports
    • Television
    • Theater
  • Tech
    • Apps
    • Autos
    • Gear
    • Mobile
    • Startup
  • Lifestyle
    • Arts
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health
    • Travel

Copyright © 2025.