Islam Down Under > Melbourne synagogue attack linked to Iran

 

Suspect named in Australian synagogue arson attack linked to Iran

By Paul Godfrey

   

A second suspect appeared in court Wednesday in connection with a Dec. 6, 2024, arson attack on the Adass Israel Synagogue in a suburb of Melbourne. File photo by Con Chronis/EPA-EFE

Aug. 27 (UPI) -- A 20-year-old man made his first court appearance in Melbourne, Australia, on Wednesday, charged in connection with the torching of a synagogue in the city, a day after Australian intelligence and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese alleged the attack was directed by Iran.

Melbourne Magistrates Court remanded Younes Ali Younes, 20, in custody to reappear Dec. 4 to answer charges of arson, endangering life and car theft in relation to a December 2024 blaze that gutted the Adass Israel Synagogue in the Ripponlea section of the city and slightly injured a worshipper.

Younes, who has been in detention since his arrest on Aug. 21, did not enter a plea.

The Melbourne resident was the second person to be charged in connection with the attack, which was designated as terrorism in the initial stage of the investigation, along with Giovanni Laulu, 21, also from Melbourne.

Related

• Iran accused of directing at least 2 anti-Semitic attacks in Australia
• Police investigate two anti-Semitic attacks in Australia
• Australian police declare Melbourne synagogue fire 'a terrorist attack'
• Australian police hunt for two men accused of setting fire to Melbourne synagogue

Authorities were continuing to hunt a third suspect.

No evidence was presented in court but prosecutors said a brief from police, who allege the three men broke into the synagogue in the early hours of Dec. 6 and set the building alight, containing CCTV footage and digital and DNA evidence would be shared with Younes' counsel before Oct. 23.

Damage to the Adass Israel was estimated at $13 million, according to court records, but synagogue members have pledged they will rebuild it.

Albanese and Australian Security Intelligence Organization chief Mike Burgess said Tuesday that Tehran tasked unnamed third parties to order the attack and an earlier second arson attack that destroyed Lewis' Continental Kitchen, a kosher restaurant in Sydney, in October 2024.

Iran's Ambassador to Australia, Ahmad Sadeghi and three other officials were expelled with seven days' notice to leave Australia, which in turn pulled out all its diplomatic staff from Tehran.

Iran said it "absolutely rejected" the allegations.

Authorities at the time of the Melbourne attack said a male witness reported seeing two men allegedly dousing the floor of the synagogue with a liquid. The pair fled after being disturbed by the witness, who sustained minor injuries to his hand.

Islam Down Under > Antisemitism becoming increasingly violent in Australia

 

Australia: Iranian sets fire to synagogue as worshipers eat dinner inside

Jul 9, 2025 9:00 am By Robert Spencer2 Comments

All over the world, violent attacks on Jews are proliferating, and the perpetrators persist in thinking they occupy the moral high ground.

Man charged with setting fire to Melbourne synagogue

as police probe terror motive

Times of Israel, July 6, 2025:

A man suspected of setting fire to an Australian synagogue as worshipers ate dinner inside has been arrested and charged, police said Sunday, as they investigated if the attack was terror related.

Angelo Loras, 34, from the Sydney suburb of Toongabbie, is suspected of setting ablaze the front door of the busy East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation synagogue on Friday night while around 20 people were inside for a Shabbat meal.

 

Victoria state police charged Loras with a string of offenses, including reckless conduct endangering life. He was not named in connection with two other attacks against the Jewish community that took place around the same time.

“The man allegedly poured a flammable liquid on the front door of the building and set it on fire before fleeing the scene,” police said in a statement. “Detectives will continue to examine the intent and ideology of the person charged to determine if the incident is in fact terrorism.”

The worshipers escaped unscathed through the back of the synagogue before firefighters doused the blaze.

Loras appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates Court and was ordered held in custody until a July 22 hearing. He did not apply for bail.

Loras describes himself on the social media platform X as “Single, Iranian, forklift driver, music lover.”

The attack was the latest of a rash of incidents to target Jews in Melbourne and Sydney, much of it thought tied to anger over Israel’s actions in the Middle East, with Australian leaders vowing Police said they were yet to find a link between the synagogue attack and two other incidents targeting Jewish residents in Melbourne on Friday night.

In one instance, a group of about 20 anti-Israel protesters swarmed an Israeli-owned restaurant while chanting “Death to the IDF.”

Destruction is seen at the scene following an attack by pro-Palestinian protesters on the Israeli-owned Miznon restaurant in Melbourne on July 4, 2025. (SOPA Images via Reuters)

The protesters allegedly flipped over tables and smashed a window, according to local media.

A police source, speaking anonymously to the Sydney Morning Herald, said that at least one of those involved is known to counter-terrorism police as being involved in violent left-wing protests. Police declined to comment on the information.

In another part of the city, cars were set on fire and daubed with antisemitic graffiti….

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