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Jewish leaders, politicians and community members have strongly condemned a firebombing arson attack on a Melbourne synagogue.
The attack on the Adass Israel synagogue at Glen Eira Avenue in Ripponlea early this morning left the Jewish community in deep shock and the place of worship heavily damaged.
Police believe the fire was targeted and are hunting two masked suspects over the attack, which unfolded while worshippers were inside.
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'Horrendous and scary': Attack shocks community
Board member Benjamin Klein said security had been heightened in recent months following verbal threats.
"We are here most of the time, praying, studying and learning to connecting with the one above," he said.
"There's been a fair bit of screaming and calling and people coming past. The community has been on edge over the last couple of months.
"This is shocking."
Klein described the attack as "quite horrendous and scary".
"It's absolutely shocking, I didn't think this would happen to us in Melbourne," he continued.
"We are a quiet community, we have our heads down and we don't bother anybody and wish everybody well and to be targeted like this is quite horrendous."
Rabbi Gabi Kaltmann, the head of a modern Orthodox congregation in Hawthorn, said it was a "pure hate crime".
"The way this is looking right now this is pure antisemitism. People coming in the wee hours of the morning to a synagogue, breaking windows, throwing fuel on the floors and setting it alight while people are there sitting and learning."
The Jewish Council Australia said it believed worshippers were inside when the arson attack happened, and Molotov cocktails – a crude incendiary made from a bottle filled with flammable liquid – was used.
"This act of disgusting violence is not just an attack on one synagogue, but is an attack on Jewish communities more broadly," said executive officer Sarah Schwartz.
"No one should be unsafe in a place of worship and I can only imagine the fear that these congregants would have felt.
"Acts of antisemitic violence are attacks on our collective values of inclusivity and respect."
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Police believe fire was 'deliberate'
In an update this morning, police said a witness spotted two masked intruders spreading accelerant around the building.
The witness left and police were alerted. Soon after the building was engulfed in flames.
Detective Inspector Chris Murray from Victoria Police's arson and explosive squad, said investigators are studying CCTV images from the local area to identify the pair.
"Our first and foremost priority is to identify those individuals that are responsible for this.
"We believe it was deliberate, we believe it has been targeted. What we don't know is why. We'll get to the why."
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Murray appealed for public help to catch those responsible for the fire.
"We're looking for vehicles, we're looking for those two individuals. We want some starting points.
"We know from experience that these investigations get solved through CCTV. We need the community's help."
One person received an injury to their hand from the fire, Murray said.
Detectives had yet to determine what type of accelerant was used to trigger the blaze. Forensic experts planned to enter the crime scene when it is made safe.
Murray also said he wanted to reassure the Jewish community police would be stepping up patrols to keep them safe.
"We're going to do our best to make sure that they can return as they should to their local synagogues and do what is absolutely Australian – that is to be able to worship without fear."
Yumi Friedman was inside the synagogue with one other person about 4.15am when he heard a big bang like a sledgehammer.
He ran to his fish shop nearby, where his staff member called the police, he said.
He then returned to the synagogue and found a small fire before the entire building was engulfed.
"So I thought maybe I'll be able to open the doors and go inside, but when I touch the door, I burnt my hand," Friedman said.
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'Zero tolerance for antisemitism'
Premier Jacinta Allan confirmed every available resource would be deployed to find the criminals who "tried to tear a community apart".
"I stand here with members of the strong, proud Jewish community that are such an important and beating heart of the city of Melbourne, the state of Victoria and the nation that is Australia, and I thank so many of our community for standing with us here today in what is… one of the toughest times, on one of their darkest days," she said.
"We all stand here today to condemn in the strongest possible terms this hateful violent attack on a beautiful, peaceful place of worship… built by Holocaust survivors who fled that most evil regime in Europe and chose Melbourne and Victoria as their home."
Allan pledged $100,000 for rebuilding work at the synagogue, which she said would begin today.
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Earlier, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the attack on the synagogue, saying there is no place for antisemitism in Australia.
"I have zero tolerance for antisemitism. It has absolutely no place in Australia. This violence and intimidation and destruction at a place of worship is an outrage," Albanese said in a statement
"This attack has risked lives and is clearly aimed at creating fear in the community.
"This deliberate, unlawful attack goes against everything we are as Australians and everything we have worked so hard to build as a nation."
Albanese has been briefed on the fire by the Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police. He said the federal government was ready to give full assistance to Victorian investigators.
Speaking at a press conference in NSW, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said the firebombing attack had no place in Australia.
"It's absolutely abhorrent to see any place of worship attacked. I want to pretend this wasn't expected but I can't do that to the Australian people," he said.
Dutton went on to condemn the attack, saying it was "predictable" given the rise of antisemitism in Australia since October 7, 2023.
"Everyone knew that anti-semitism and that hatred, vilification and racism was lurking beneath the surface but what we have seen on our university campuses, online and what we have seen against people of the Jewish faith has been completely and utterly unacceptable and it should be condemned in this country," he said.
"To see the firebombing of a synagogue in this country, a place of worship, is something that is not welcome and has no place in this country."
Foreign Minister Penny Wong called the attack an "act of hate".
"I condemn unequivocally the Melbourne synagogue attack. The targeting of a place of worship is an act of hate," Wong said.
"Violence and antisemitism have no place in Australia."
Anyone who witnessed the incident, has dash cam/CCTV footage or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000
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