Adass Synagogue: Police probe whether third man charged over firebombing was aware of Iranian orchestration

Counter-terrorism police are determining whether a third man charged over an arson attack on a Melbourne synagogue was aware that Iran had orchestrated the firebombing.

Authorities on Friday arrested a 20-year-old Airport West man for the attack which gutted Melbourne’s Adass Israel Synagogue in December 2024.

Australian Federal Police’s Peter Crozier on Friday told Melbourne reporters that probing any link to foreign players would be a “key line of inquiry” for the “politically motivated attack”.

Assistant commissioner Crozier had been asked if the latest man had been directed by “offshore individuals” and if the three accused were thought to be “foot soldiers” of the regime.

“This investigation does have international connections, and we’ll continue to work collaboratively with our international partners,” he said.

“As part of the investigation, we have identified that there are people who are driving or being principals of some offending.

“On a number of occasions we’ve seen, where there are a number of tied or cut ways, that these people potentially they might actually be aware of the people who are directing.

“That remains a key line of inquiry for us.”

ASIO boss Mike Burgess had last year confirmed that a branch of Iran’s military — the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps — had orchestrated the attacks alongside other antisemitic incidents against Australia’s Jewish community.

While the latest man arrested doesn’t face terror-related charges, Mr Crozier said the charges were “always available” to authorities if evidence was received.

That man will appear in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday charged with criminal damage by fire, conduct endangering life and theft of motor vehicle.

Arson carries a maximum penalty of 15 years imprisonment.

Mr Crozier also accused some of the people they have previously interviewed in relation to the firebombing of lying to police and called for them to “come forward and do the right thing”.

He said while authorities were “frustrated” by individuals who “deliberately lied” to “obstruct justice”, Mr Crozier vowed the investigation — which at least 220 people have so far assisted with — would continue.

“It’s better for them to come forward than for us to come to them,” Mr Crozier warned.

“It’s always going to frustrating investigations and will leave us not being able to get those responsible. We know that there are people out there in the community with information.

“We also know there are family members who know that some of the people in the families may have been involved, and we urge them to come forward.

“We will not stop investigating every element of this attack.”

The Iranian government and former Canberra- based Iranian ambassador to Australia Ahmad Sadeghi had denied that Tehran and former was responsible for the attacks.

Mr Sadeghi was expelled in August last year after he was named “persona non grata” in the wake of Mr Burgess’ confirmation of Tehran’s involvement.

Two others, a 20-year-old Melton South man and a 21-year-old Werribee man, have previously been charged over the blaze, and are already before the courts.