Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has said “we probably all have the same view” about the Melbourne synagogue attack, as authorities investigate whether terrorism charges may apply.

Mr Burke attended the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation on Sunday, after the place of worship was allegedly targeted in an arson attack.

Detectives from Victoria Police’s Counter Terrorism Security Investigation Unit have since arrested a man who is suspected of attempting to set the building on fire.

Speaking from the grounds, Mr Burke described the alleged arson as “an attack on Australia”, amid concerns about domestic antisemitism.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has said “we probably all have the same view” about the Melbourne synagogue attack, as authorities investigate whether terrorism charges may apply. Picture: Tony Gough

“There were three attacks that night, and none of them belonged in Australia,” Mr Burke said.

“Arson attacks, the chanting calls for death, other attacks and graffiti — none of it belonged in Australia. And they were attacks on Australia.”

When asked if the attack should be classified as terrorism, Mr Burke said that decision rests with Victorian Police but acknowledged the community concern.

“I think every Australian has a view, and we probably all have the same view as to where that will end up. But we leave that with the Victorian police,” he said.

It comes after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese faced criticism in 2024 for not labelling another synagogue attack as terrorism.

A 34-year-old man from Toongabbie, New South Wales has been charged over the latest alleged arson.

Police allege he poured flammable liquid on the synagogue’s front door and set it alight before fleeing.

The fire was quickly extinguished and no one was physically injured, though about 20 people inside were celebrating Shabbat at the time.

“There’s been some reporting that no one was physically injured. That doesn’t mean no one was harmed,” Mr Burke said.

“The community here was harmed. The Jewish community in Australia was harmed. And we were harmed as a nation.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has demanded the Albanese government take stronger action on the matter, in a statement released on Sunday.

“I view with utmost gravity the antisemitic attacks that occurred last night in Melbourne,” he said.

“The reprehensible antisemitic attacks, with calls of ‘Death to the IDF’ and an attempt to attack a place of worship, are severe hate crimes that must be uprooted.

“We demand that the Australian government take all action to deal with the rioters to the fullest extent of the law and prevent similar attacks in the future.”

Mr Burke has spoken with the Israeli Ambassador to Australia about the incident, in what he described as a “good conversation”.

“I’m not going to talk of anything else. And my conversation with the Israeli ambassador yesterday, he rang me, and I was very grateful for that call,” he said.

The Home Affairs Minister used his visit to urge all Australians to actively counter antisemitism in their daily lives.

“Be kind and welcoming on purpose. Make the effort,” he said.

“And if you see the slightest moment… where someone makes the slightest comments that you think could be steeped in antisemitism or other forms of bigotry, just bring them back.”

No one was injured in any of the incidents and none have been deemed terrorism, but Victoria Police Commander Zorka Dunstan said on Saturday officers would investigate the motives of those involved. “The investigation is under the security investigation unit, who is part of our counterterrorism command. The security investigation unit investigates matters of communal violence,” Dunstan said. Victoria Police Commander Zorka Dunstan on Saturday. Credit: Penny Stephens “We do recognise that these crimes are disgusting and abhorrent, but at this stage, we are not declaring this a terrorist incident. 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.” However, Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel described the attacks as terrorism.

“Targeting Jewish houses of worship and an Israeli restaurant is terrorism, aimed at intimidating an entire community simply because of their religion and identity,” she said. Haskel said the attacks “are yet another reminder of how far racist, antisemitic hate crimes have spread in the heart of Australia” and expressed solidarity with Melbourne’s Jewish community. “These attacks are not just assaults on Jews or Israelis — they are assaults on Australian values of tolerance, diversity and freedom.” Dunstan said the three incidents all had “inferences of antisemitism” or anti-Israel protest activity, but investigators had yet to find a connection between them.

The vandalised business, Lovitt Technologies Australia, on Para Road in Greensborough, is a weapons company with links to Israel and had previously been targeted by protesters opposing the Israeli military. The business was contacted for comment. In the synagogue attack, it was unclear whether the offender knew anyone was inside the building at the time, Dunstan said. “At this stage, we believe it’s just one person involved, but we’re not discounting there might be more. So we’re just canvassing for the CCTV to see what we can identify. “We are taking all three incidents incredibly seriously. There’s no place in Australia for hatred or discrimination of any kind, and we condemn it.” A damaged car on Saturday and evidence of old graffiti on a wall at Lovitt Technologies Australia in Greensborough. Credit: Aaron Francis Police officers were providing proactive patrols in the areas around the attacks and supporting Melbourne’s broader Jewish community.

There would also be a significant police presence in the CBD on Sunday “in response to multiple planned protests”, a Victoria Police spokesperson said. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Premier Jacinta Allan both condemned the attacks on Saturday. “Antisemitism has no place in Australia,” Albanese said. “Those responsible for these shocking acts must face the full force of the law, and my government will provide all necessary support toward this effort.” The burnt doors seen from inside the East Melbourne Synagogue after the arson attack on Friday night. Allan said: “This is disgraceful behaviour by a pack of cowards. That this happened on Shabbat makes it all the more abhorrent.”

Jewish Community Council of Victoria president Phillip Zajac said firefighters responded to the synagogue attack quickly and contained the fire, which caused only superficial damage to the bluestone building and heavy timber doors. “Lighting a place of worship [on fire] is just dreadful,” Zajac said. “A place of worship has got nothing to do with the Middle East dispute. This has really gotten to me.” About the same time on Friday night, police said a splinter group of about 20 people broke off from a larger anti-police protest in Melbourne’s CBD and walked to the Israeli restaurant on Hardware Lane, where they shouted offensive chants. An independent photographer at the scene said the group asked patrons why they were giving money to the restaurant. The group chanted “Death to the IDF” and “Miznon out of Melbourne”, the photographer said.

The aftermath at Miznon on Friday night. Credit: Alex Zucco Pro-Palestine protesters have been calling for a boycott of Miznon after it emerged that one of its part-owners, Israeli entrepreneur Shahar Segal, is also a spokesman for the controversial aid group Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. This week, the Associated Press reported that American contractors were using live ammunition and stun grenades to guard Gaza Humanitarian Foundation aid distribution sites while hungry Palestinians scrambled for food. Nina Sanadze, a Jewish gallery owner and friend of Miznon’s owners, went straight to the restaurant after receiving a call on Friday night. When she arrived, police had blocked the street and Miznon staff were sweeping away broken glass and remnants of tomatoes thrown at the windows.

Sculptor Nina Sanadze with her installation Chiur, made of burnt chairs from the Ripponlea synagogue that was firebombed last year. Sanadze went to Miznon on Friday night after a group stormed the restaurant. Credit: Penny Stephens Inside, Sanadze said, staff were “hugging, crying and shaking”. “It was a very, very scary experience.” Sanadze said that when the group arrived, the restaurant’s managers tried to “step in and push the protesters out”, and directed customers to the back of the restaurant. “It was hard for customers to do anything,” she said. “I think the brawl broke out because people were actually trying to stand up and say, ‘go away’.” After closing the doors, Miznon managers apologised to their shaken staff for the ordeal and carried on with their usual Friday tradition of Shabbat, lighting candles, singing Jewish songs and eating Challah.

A Miznon staff member conducts prayer ritual before the restaurant opened on Saturday. Credit: Aaron Francis “We were not in the mood to eat, it was more of a thing of tradition and resilience to stand together,” Sanadze said. Sanadze emphasised that Miznon’s workers were a mix of nationalities and that the restaurant “has nothing to do with the [Israeli Defence Force] or anyone over there”. On Saturday morning, detectives attended Miznon and spoke with one of the co-owners. One staff member came out with a pan, burning sage and waving it around the outside of the restaurant. “Blessings to everyone,” he said. “Good energy.”

A 28-year-old person from Footscray was arrested “for hindering police and has been released on summons” over the restaurant incident, police said. Dunstan said there was not enough evidence to arrest anyone else, but the identities of those involved had been recorded as investigations continued and police combed social media and CCTV footage. The “death to the IDF” chant was also heard in Melbourne’s Bourke Street Mall during last Sunday’s regular anti-Israel protest, and shouted from the Glastonbury stage in the UK by band Bob Vylan in its controversial performance. Loading

The attack follows the firebombing in December that gutted the Adass Israel Synagogue in Ripponlea. Counterterrorism police later revealed that attack involved “criminals for hire” and a known underworld getaway car, but have yet to rule terrorism in or out. Dunstan did not have further information on that investigation. The East Melbourne Synagogue, founded six years after Victoria was established as a colony, is known as the city shul and is the only Jewish place of worship in central Melbourne. The front doors of the synagogue were locked at the time of the attack, which was after traditional Shabbat prayers. Melbourne Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece attended the synagogue on Friday night after he learnt of the attack. He described the fire and targeting of Jewish businesses in the city as despicable and racist. “The criminal attacks on Jewish businesses in the CBD and the East Melbourne Synagogue are shocking and should be condemned in the strongest possible terms,” he said. “I am angry and dismayed that once again our community is confronted with the despicable and racist actions of a few people.

Rabbi Dovid Gutnick and Melbourne Lord Mayor Nick Reece in East Melbourne on Saturday morning. Credit: Aaron Francis “My thoughts are with the Jewish community, who are hurting deeply after these vile attacks.” Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin said the latest attacks were a return to “the antisemitic terror of the summer months” and “clear evidence that the antisemitism crisis is not only continuing, but getting worse”. “Those who chant for death are not peace activists. Those who would burn houses of prayer with families inside do not seek an end to war.” Loading

Zionist Federation of Australia president Jeremy Leibler said: “About 20 Victorians could have been murdered last night, and another Melbourne synagogue destroyed, had this terrorist attack not been stopped in its tracks. “And just days after Glastonbury revellers were led to chant for death, their chant was repeated in Melbourne by a mob storming a restaurant much-loved by the Jewish community and many others.” Victorian Police Minister Anthony Carbines said he had spoken to federal Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, who had approved the use of ASIO and Australian Federal Police resources to support Victoria Police investigating the arson attack in East Melbourne. “The intimidation of violence that we saw at a restaurant in the CBD: let’s be really clear, this behaviour is totally unacceptable,” Carbines said. Burke and Multicultural Affairs Minister Anne Aly said the federal government was “committed to supporting improved security measures at places of worship”. Their statement did not detail what further measures were being considered.

Aly said she had spoken with Jillian Segal, the special envoy to combat antisemitism, about the need for a broader approach to educate people about bigotry faced by the Jewish community. In a separate incident last month, vandals targeted a historic synagogue in South Yarra. Graffiti on the synagogue in South Yarra last month. Attackers used red paint to scrawl “Free Palestine” and “Iran is Da Bomb”, set inside the outline of a nuclear mushroom cloud, on the heritage-listed synagogue. The latest attacks in Melbourne prompted the federal opposition to call on Albanese to increase security for the Jewish community.

A group of about 20 people, some masked and wearing Palestinian keffiyeh scarves, entered the CBD Israeli restaurant, Miznon, at 8.15pm. They shouted offensive chants, scuffling with staff and knocking over tables, before police arrived and arrested one man. Footage from the Miznon incident shows diners screaming in fear inside the Hardware Lane restaurant, which is part-owned by an Israeli entrepreneur who has been promoting a controversial aid group in Gaza. A police source, who cannot be identified speaking about operational matters, said at least one of those who invaded the restaurant was part of a group known to counter-terrorism police for sometimes organising left-wing protests that turned violent.

Victoria Police declined to comment on the identity of the person or the nature of the groups involved . A police spokesperson said investigations were ongoing into the incident at Miznon. A damaged car on Saturday and evidence of old graffiti on a wall at Lovitt Technologies Australia in Greensborough. Credit: Aaron Francis Police are also investigating a third incident, where three cars were set on fire and the wall of a business in Melbourne’s north-east was spray-painted with graffiti against the Israeli military about 4.30am on Saturday. The vandalised business, Lovitt Technologies Australia, on Para Road in Greensborough, is a weapons company with links to Israel and had previously been targeted by protesters opposing the Israeli military. The business was contacted for comment.

Police condemn string of incidents No one was injured in any of the incidents and none were deemed terrorism, but Victoria Police Commander Zorka Dunstan said on Saturday that officers would investigate the motives of those involved. “The investigation is under the security investigation unit, who is part of our counterterrorism command. The security investigation unit investigates matters of communal violence,” Dunstan said. “We do recognise that these crimes are disgusting and abhorrent, but at this stage, we are not declaring this a terrorist incident. 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.”

Dunstan alleged that the three incidents all had “inferences of antisemitism” or anti-Israel protest activity, but investigators had yet to find a connection between them. “We are taking all three incidents incredibly seriously. There’s no place in Australia for hatred or discrimination of any kind, and we condemn it.” The singed doors seen from inside the East Melbourne Synagogue after the arson attack on Friday night. In addition to the significant police presence in the CBD for Sunday’s pro-Palestine protests, officers are providing proactive patrols in the areas around the attacks. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Premier Jacinta Allan both condemned the attacks on Saturday.

Loading “Antisemitism has no place in Australia,” Albanese said. “Those responsible for these shocking acts must face the full force of the law, and my government will provide all necessary support toward this effort.” Allan said: “This is disgraceful behaviour by a pack of cowards. That this happened on Shabbat makes it all the more abhorrent.” Restaurant targeted after calls for boycott About the same time the synagogue was set alight on Friday night, police said a splinter group of about 20 people broke off from a larger anti-police protest in Melbourne’s CBD and walked to the Israeli restaurant on Hardware Lane, where they shouted offensive chants.

An independent photographer at the scene said the group asked patrons why they were giving money to the restaurant. The group chanted “death to the IDF” and “Miznon out of Melbourne”, the photographer said. A Miznon staff member conducts a prayer ritual before the restaurant opened on Saturday. Credit: Aaron Francis Pro-Palestine protesters have been calling for a boycott of Miznon after it emerged that one of its part-owners, Israeli entrepreneur Shahar Segal, is also a spokesman for the controversial aid group Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. This week, the Associated Press reported that American contractors were using live ammunition and stun grenades to guard Gaza Humanitarian Foundation aid distribution sites while hungry Palestinians scrambled for food.

Loading Nina Sanadze, a Jewish gallery owner and friend of Miznon’s owners, went straight to the restaurant after receiving a call on Friday night. When she arrived, police had blocked the street and Miznon staff were sweeping away broken glass and remnants of tomatoes thrown at the windows. Inside, Sanadze said, staff were “hugging, crying and shaking”. “It was a very, very scary experience.” Sanadze said that when the group arrived, the restaurant’s managers tried to “step in and push the protesters out”, directing customers to the back of the restaurant.

“It was hard for customers to do anything,” she said. “I think the brawl broke out because people were actually trying to stand up and say, ‘go away’.” After closing the doors, Miznon managers apologised to their shaken staff for the ordeal and carried on with their usual Friday tradition of Shabbat, lighting candles, singing Jewish songs and eating challah. Police at Miznon on Saturday. Credit: Aaron Francis “We were not in the mood to eat, it was more of a thing of tradition and resilience to stand together,” Sanadze said. Sanadze emphasised that Miznon’s workers were a mix of nationalities and that the restaurant “has nothing to do with the [Israeli Defence Forces] or anyone over there”.

A 28-year-old person from Footscray was arrested “for hindering police and has been released on summons” over the restaurant incident, police said. Loading Dunstan said there was not enough evidence to arrest anyone else, but the identities of those involved had been recorded as investigations continued and police combed social media and CCTV footage. Incidents follow string of attacks The “death to the IDF” chant was also heard in Melbourne’s Bourke Street Mall during last Sunday’s regular anti-Israel protest, and shouted from the Glastonbury stage in the UK by rap duo Bob Vylan in its controversial performance.

The attack follows the firebombing in December that gutted the Adass Israel Synagogue in Ripponlea. Counterterrorism police later revealed that the attack involved “criminals for hire” and a known underworld getaway car, but have yet to rule terrorism in or out. Dunstan did not have further information on that investigation. Graffiti on the synagogue in South Yarra last month. In a separate incident last month, vandals targeted a historic synagogue in South Yarra. Attackers used red paint to scrawl “free Palestine” and “Iran is da bomb”, set inside the outline of a nuclear mushroom cloud, on the heritage-listed synagogue.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other high-ranking Israeli officials have responded with fury to the attacks on a Melbourne synagogue and Jewish restaurant on Friday night.

In a Hebrew-language statement posted overnight, Mr Netanyahu called the attack on the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation and Miznon restaurant “vile” and called on the Australian government to take “all necessary measures” to bring the offenders to justice.

“Vile antisemitic attacks, accompanied by chants of ‘Death to the IDF’ and an attempt to harm a house of worship, are serious hate crimes that must be uprooted at their source,” he said.

“Israel will continue to stand with the Jewish community in Australia, and we call on the Australian government to take all necessary measures to bring the rioters to justice and to prevent such attacks in the future.”

In a statement posted to X, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said Israel stood “firmly” with the Jewish community in Australia.

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has responded to Friday’s attacks on Jews in Melbourne. Picture: GPO / AFP /

“I strongly condemn last night’s vile antisemitic attacks in Melbourne, including the arson attack on the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation synagogue and the targeted violence at the Israeli restaurant Miznon,” he said.

“Israel stands firmly with the Jewish community in Australia.

“There have been too many antisemitic attacks in Australia.

“The Australian government must do more to fight this poisonous disease.”

Israel’s President Isaac Herzog, meanwhile, called the synagogue attack “chilling”.

“I condemn outright the vile arson attack targeting Jews in Melbourne’s historic and oldest synagogue on the Sabbath, and on an Israeli restaurant where people had come to enjoy a meal together,” he said on X.

“It is intolerable that in 2025, we are still faced with the chilling image of an attempt to burn Jews alive as they pray, and attacks on Jewish businesses.

“This is not the first such attack in Australia in recent months. But it must be the last.

“Australian authorities must take all steps necessary to protect their Jewish citizens. anti-Semitism is a stain on any society and must be confronted with urgency and resolve.”

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has led the government response to Friday’s attack.

On Sunday, he said he had spoken with Israeli ambassador Amir Maimon over the phone.

“I had a good conversation yesterday with the Israeli ambassador,” Mr Burke said from the synagogue.

“He had heard that I was coming today and rang me to thank me.

“And he took it as a signal that the government was taking this very seriously.”

Mr Burke also said that even though “no one was physically injured”, it did not mean “no one was harmed”.

“The community here was harmed,” he said.

“The Jewish community in Australia was harmed and we were harmed as a nation.”

Mr Burke said there were multiple attacks on Friday “and none of them belonged in Australia”.

“And they were attacks on Australia,” he said.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke visited the synagogue on Sunday. Picture: NewsWire / Valeriu Campan

The burned door of the synagogue. Picture: David Crosling/ NewsWire

Relations between Australia and Israel have been strained in recent months by the Albanese government’s repeated calls for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Mr Netanyahu last year accused Labor of being anti-Israel, partly blaming its stance on Gaza as fuelling a surge in anti-Semitism in Australia.

Last month, the Albanese geasovernment sanctioning two senior Israeli ministers last month.

NSW man charged

Victoria Police have charged a man with recklessly endangering life for allegedly setting fire to the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation with some 20 people inside.

The police have alleged 34-year-old Angelo Loras from NSW entered the grounds of the synagogue about 8pm on Friday night.

“The man allegedly poured a flammable liquid on the front door of the building and set it on fire before fleeing the scene on foot in a westerly direction along Albert Street,” the police said in a statement.

“There were approximately 20 people inside the synagogue at the time of the incident taking part in Shabbat.”

The worshippers fled the building and nobody was injured in the incident.

Firefighters attended the scene and the fire was contained to the entrance.

The police arrested the man on Saturday night about 8.15pm in the CBD.

The police allege a man set fire to the synagogue in East Melbourne on Friday night. Picture: David Crosling/ NewsWire

“He was interviewed by detectives and charged with reckless conduct endanger life, reckless conduct endanger serious injury, criminal damage by fire, and possess a controlled weapon,” the police said.

He faced court on Sunday and will return to court later this month.

The police said they were still assessing whether the incident constituted an act of terrorism.

“Detectives will continue to examine the intent and ideology of the person charged to determine if the incident is in fact terrorism,” the police said.

The police released an image of the man on Saturday.

“He is pictured wearing a dark blue or black jumper, black pants and a black beanie,” the statement read.

Premier Jacinta Allan slammed the man’s behaviour as “disgraceful” and labelled it an act of anti-Semitism.

“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 anti-Semitism,” Ms Allan said.

“This is disgraceful behaviour by a pack of cowards,” she said.

“That this happened on Shabbat makes it all the more abhorrent.”

Rabbi Gutnick stands in front of the damaged door. Picture: David Crosling/ NewsWire

An arson chemist will examine the scene and police are reviewing CCTV and other evidence.

“Police are engaging with people from the synagogue and other representatives from the Jewish community to ensure appropriate supports are in place,” Victoria Police said in a statement.

“There is absolutely no place in our society for anti-Semitic or hate-based behaviour.”

East Melbourne Synagogue rabbi Dovid Gutnik said the community was “lucky” the fire didn’t escalate further.

“There were children playing … this is a family synagogue,” Rabbi Gutnik said.

“That’s the really scary thing because they could have opened the door … it could have been a lot worse because those doors are wooden and there’s carpet, so we were lucky the response was quick.”

About 20 occupants were forced to flee through the rear entrance. Picture: David Crosling/ NewsWire

Rabbi Gutnik said they were considering enhancing security but emphasised that a place of worship shouldn’t need such extreme measures.

“We actually have some really good security measures, which actually were tested and held up last night,” he said.

“If there’s anything more than we can do it’s more of an emotional thing than a practical thing.”

Separate Melbourne protest

In a separate incident, about 70 protesters gathered on Swanston Street about 5.30pm to demonstrate against police presence at public rallies.

Police said a smaller group then split off just after 8pm and walked to a restaurant on Hardware Lane and began shouting offensive chants.

The front door of popular Israeli restaurant Miznon was smashed during the chaos.

Police were called to the scene and directed the group to leave.

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

Others were identified for possible follow-up.

“Victoria Police is disappointed with the actions of protesters in the Melbourne CBD on Friday night,” police said in a statement.

“Victoria Police continued to support the rights of Victorians to protest peacefully but will not tolerate the kind of anti-social and violent behaviour that was witnessed this evening.”

Miznon confirmed they were still planning to open on Saturday.

Police are also investigating a third incident, in which three cars were torched at a business in Greensborough early Saturday morning.

The vehicles and a wall were covered in spray paint.

Police say they are not aware of any links, but are not ruling them out.

“We are taking all three incredibly seriously,” Commander Dunstan said.

Protesters targeted an Israeli restaurant on Friday night. Picture: NewsWire / Nadir Kinani

Wild scenes were reported as the group descended on Hardware lane. Picture: Supplied

Melbourne Lord Mayor Nick Reece said he was “angry” and “dismayed” about Friday’s events.

“Everyone deserves the right to enjoy the most basic human acts, like practising your faith or enjoying a meal, without being attacked or vilified,” Mr Reece said.

Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin called for those responsible to face the “full force of the law”.

“These events are a severe escalation directed towards our community and clear evidence that the antisemitism crisis is not only continuing, but getting worse. We urge all sides of politics and all Australians to condemn these deplorable crimes,” he said.

“Those who would burn houses of prayer with families inside do not seek an end to war.”

Police allege Minzon was targeted by a “splinter group” from a larger protest calling for an independent investigation into “Vic Pol’s indiscriminate use of force”.

The anti-police rally, promoted by the Black People’s Union, Whistleblower, Activists and Communities Alliance and Total Liberation Alliance among other activist groups, demanded an end to heavy-handed policing at protests.

“After repeated, unprovoked assaults by Victoria Police at peaceful protests, we’ve had enough,” the group said.