Taskforce set up as police hunt culprits behind spate of anti-Semitic attacks in Melbourne

An anti-hate taskforce will assemble in Melbourne this week in the wake of the latest violent anti-Semitic incidents.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has pulled together the taskforce after a synagogue was firebombed, a Jewish-owned restaurant was stormed while people ate inside, and another business was vandalised; all across this past weekend.

Ms Allan made a private visit to the targeted synagogue on Monday morning before the taskforce meets later in the week.

The Premier has tapped the Police Minister, Lord Mayor and police executives for the “anti-hate” taskforce, Ms Allan’s office says. Invitations will go out to representatives of Melbourne’s Jewish community.

Speaking outside the synagogue on Monday, Ms Allan said Jewish Victorians were an important part of the community.

“I’ll continue to stand with a strong, proud Jewish community here in Victoria every single day.

“They are a big, important part of our community. They demand our support at this most difficult time.

“They demand our action, which is why, alongside strengthening laws and the response of Victoria Police, we will continue to work to build a stronger place where everyone can be who they are and practise their faith safe and free from hate.”

In a statement released soon after, Ms Allan detailed the taskforce’s first steps.

She will request details on how Victoria Police plans to “operationalise the criminal components” of the new Anti-Vilification and Social Cohesion Act.

Ms Allan has also requested an update from the Local Escalation and Help (LEAH) group, which was set up to support the Jewish community at a local level.

The taskforce members will also learn how community consultation and development of legislation is progressing, in a push for increased police powers to stamp out extreme and violent protest.

At the synagogue on Monday, Ms Allan said she pledged to the Rabbi that the government would fund mental health support for the people inside during the fire, particularly the children.

Ms Allan also revealed the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation received $80,000 from the government for security upgrades in December.

“Places of worship like this synagogue are a part of our fabric as a society,” Ms Allan said.

“We will protect them with everything we’ve got.”

The first of this weekend’s three incidents happened at the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation at 8pm on Friday as about 20 adults and children worshipped inside.

Angelo Loras, 34, from NSW, allegedly poured accelerant on the front door and set fire to the synagogue. Nobody inside was physically injured. Mr Loras was arrested about 24 hours later and has been charged with recklessly endangering life.

Police are still assessing whether the incident constituted an act of terrorism.

In a separate incident in the CBD on Friday night, an Israeli-owned restaurant was targeted. As people ate, a group of people who had split off from an anti-police violence protest harassed and intimidated diners. This incident happened on busy Hardware Lane.

A 28-year-old from Footscray was arrested for hindering police and released on summons.

Police have now released footage of a third incident, this too believed to have anti-Israeli motivations.

This act of vandalism happened at a business in the northeast suburb of Greensborough about 4am on Saturday.

Police say five people entered the property on Para Rd and set fire to three cars. One of the cars was destroyed.

“The group also used red spray paint to write various slogans on the cars and on a building wall,” a police spokesperson said.

Police released footage of the attack early on Monday; masked people set two cars on fire, while one person spray paints one of the cars.

“While investigators continue to liaise with Counter Terrorism Command to establish if there are any connections to the arson on the synagogue in East Melbourne and a public order incident on Hardware Lane, at this time no links have been identified,” a police spokesperson said.

“There is absolutely no place at all in our society for ant-Semitic behaviour.”

Police say this group took off on e-bikes in a south-westerly direction along Plenty River. All were wearing black hoodies, with backpacks and gloves.

The attacks drew an international response, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanding action against the “rioters”.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke and former attorney-general Mark Dreyfus visited the East Melbourne synagogue on Sunday and described the firebombing as an “attack on Australia”.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said those responsible for the “shocking acts” must face the full force of the law, as the US Embassy in Australia praised the “swift response”.

Federal opposition frontbencher Melissa McIntosh has called for the prime minister to convene an urgent meeting of national cabinet to deal with the issue.

But Victoria’s opposition police spokesman David Southwick, who is Jewish, said there was no need for another “talkfest”.

“The time for talk is over. We need action,” the Caulfield MP said.

Former treasurer Josh Frydenberg, who presented a documentary on anti-Semitism in Australia following Hamas’ October 7 terror attacks, called the wave of Melbourne incidents a “hate crime”.

“Violent anti-Semitism is a threat to us all and until it’s called out for what it really is, it will continue,” he wrote on social media.

- with Newswire