Sydney CNN —

A man set the door of a synagogue alight and a group of protesters stormed an Israeli restaurant in Melbourne on Friday night, the latest in a wave of antisemitic attacks in Australian cities.

About 20 people were inside the synagogue in the downtown area of East Melbourne when a man poured flammable liquid on the front door of the synagogue on Albert Street before setting it on fire, Victoria state police said.

The group was having Shabbat dinner, marking the beginning of the Jewish day of rest, when the attack took place at 8 p.m. local time, Alex Ryvchin, the co-CEO of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ), wrote on X.

No one was injured and firefighters extinguished the small blaze, police said, adding that the perpetrator, who remains unidentified, fled the scene.

Just over 1 kilometer to the west on Hardware Lane – one of the city’s most popular areas for restaurants and nightlife – about 20 protesters stormed into an Israeli restaurant, chanting slogans, police said. A 28-year-old was arrested for hindering police, and has been released on a summons.

The group was chanting “Death to the IDF” before arriving at the restaurant, CNN affiliate Nine News reported, citing witnesses.

Staff at the restaurant, Miznon – which launched in the Israeli commercial hub Tel Aviv in 2011 before opening a branch in Melbourne – acknowledged the incident when contacted by CNN.

Speaking at a press briefing, Acting Commander Zorka Dunstan of Victoria state police said officers were also investigating a third attack early Saturday morning in which three cars were set on fire near a business in the northeastern suburb of Greensborough.

Suspects spray-painted the cars and the walls of the buildings, she said, adding that the business has been targeted by pro-Palestine protesters in the past.

The security investigation unit, part of the counter-terrorism command, is investigating all the incidents, though police have yet to declare whether they constitute a terrorism incident, Dunstan said.

“We will examine the intent and the ideology of the persons or person involved,” she said.

Many among Australia’s 117,000-strong Jewish population are anxious after spate of antisemitic attacks in the country’s two biggest cities, Sydney and Melbourne, since late last year – including arson attacks on synagogues, and swastikas scrawled on buildings and cars.

The latest attacks drew condemnation from officials and community leaders on Saturday.

Denouncing the synagogue attack on X Saturday, Premier of Victoria Jacinta Allan said it was “designed to shatter…peace and traumatize Jewish families.”

“That it happened on Shabbat makes it all the more abhorrent,” she added, noting that children and women were among the people present at the venue.

“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,” she said.

Melbourne’s Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece described the attack as “shocking,” according to Nine News.

“I cannot condemn this sort of behavior in stronger terms… this is a city of peace and tolerance, and we will not stand for this,” he said.

Ryvchin, from the ECAJ, urged the nation to condemn “these deplorable crimes.”

“Those responsible cannot be reasoned with or appeased. They must be confronted with the full force of the law,” he wrote on X.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog joined in condemning the attacks in a post of his own on X, urging Australian officials to “take all steps necessary to protect their Jewish citizens.”

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

Likewise, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office released a statement Saturday calling on Australia “to take all necessary measures to bring the perpetrators to justice and to prevent such attacks in the future.”

This story has been updated with additional developments.

Australia: Man sets fire to Jewish place of worship, sparks protests

by IANS |

Canberra, July 5 (IANS) In a series of anti-Semitic incidents in Australia overnight, the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation on Albert Street became the target of an arson attack. Additionally, a few hours later, about 20 protesters gathered outside an Israeli-owned restaurant in Melbourne’s Central Business District (CBD) in the state of Victoria, according to local media reports.

The Victoria Police further revealed details about another incident that occurred at a business in the Greensborough suburb in Melbourne early Saturday morning.

“It’s understood that unknown offenders attended a business on Para Road and set fire to three cars. They also used spray paint on the cars and a building wall. One of the cars was destroyed, the other two were moderately damaged,” Australian state-run news agency ABC quoted the Acting Commander Zorka Dunstan as saying.

Commander Dunstan mentioned that the incident involved “some references of anti-Semitism”, and the business had witnessed pro-Palestinian activity over the past year, leading the police to believe that it may be linked to the other two incidents from Friday.

“At this stage there are no links, but police aren’t discounting them,’ she said.

This came after Australia’s national security agency, ASIO, and Australian Federal Police (AFP) joined the Victoria Police in the investigation into the arson attack on the synagogue (Jewish house of worship)and restaurant protest.

According to the investigators, a man entered the grounds of the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation on Albert Street on Friday night and poured a flammable liquid on the front door and set it on fire.

Police said that about 20 people were inside the synagogue at the time, but were evacuated safely through the rear of the building, adding that there were no injuries.

“There is absolutely no place in our society for antisemitic or hate-based behaviour,” Victoria Police said in a statement.

The Victoria Police have released an image of a man detectives wish to speak with in connection with the fire.

Victorian Police Minister Anthony Carbines announced on Saturday morning that he had spoken with Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke.

“The full resources of ASIO and the AFP are backing Victoria Police in their investigations into both the attempted arson at the Melbourne East synagogue overnight, also the intimidation and violence that we saw at the restaurant in the CBD,” Carbines said.

Australian Opposition Leader MP Sussan Ley took to her social media to condemn the “horrifying” attack.

“What happened in Melbourne last night was horrifying. A synagogue set alight while families gathered for Shabbat dinner. An Israeli restaurant stormed and terrorised by protesters chanting ‘death to the IDF.’ This is not protest. This is hate. And it has no place in Australia,” she said in a post on X.

Israeli Ambassador to Australia Amir Maimon described the attack as “disgraceful and vile” and called for an end to anti-Semitism.

“It is disgraceful and vile that Melbourne’s oldest synagogue was targeted in an attempted arson attack last night. The East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation, a place only filled with love, was met with pure hate. The Jewish people of Australia are strong and resilient, but no community should have to endure attack after attack after attack. This rotten and evil disease of antisemitism must end,” the Israeli Ambassador posted on X.

A man set fire to a synagogue door in Melbourne, while protesters targeted an Israeli restaurant, amid rising antisemitic attacks in Australia.

www.cnn.com

Antisemitic attacks in Australia have surged, with recent incidents shaking Melbourne’s Jewish community. On July 5, 2025, a man ignited the door of a synagogue while protesters stormed an Israeli restaurant, highlighting a troubling trend.

6 Key Takeaways Antisemitic attacks surge in Australian cities.

Synagogue door set ablaze during Shabbat.

Protesters storm Israeli restaurant in Melbourne.

Police investigate multiple antisemitic incidents.

Community leaders condemn recent attacks.

Israeli officials urge protection for Jewish citizens.

These attacks occurred during a Shabbat dinner, causing fear among the 117,000-strong Jewish population in Australia. As officials condemn the violence, the community grapples with rising antisemitism, prompting urgent calls for action.

Fast Answer: Recent antisemitic incidents in Australia, including a synagogue arson and protests, underscore a growing crisis that demands immediate attention from authorities and society.

The recent wave of antisemitic violence raises critical questions about community safety and the effectiveness of law enforcement. How can authorities better protect vulnerable populations? What measures can be implemented to combat hate crimes?

Over 20 individuals were present during the synagogue attack.

Protesters chanted slogans targeting the Israeli Defense Forces.

Police are investigating potential links to pro-Palestine protests.

Community leaders call for stronger legal repercussions against hate crimes.

The rise in antisemitic acts in Australia poses a significant threat to social cohesion, urging global leaders to take a stand against hate and discrimination.

As the world watches, it is crucial for communities to unite against hate and advocate for justice. Will Australia take the necessary steps to ensure safety for all its citizens?

A man has been charged after a Melbourne synagogue was set alight with more than a dozen people inside.

The 34-year-old man entered the grounds of the synagogue on Albert Street at 8pm on Friday, police said.

He then allegedly poured flammable liquid on the front door of the religious building and set it alight before fleeing.

READ MORE: Homicide investigation after Perth man stabbed in front of loved ones

An unknown man entered the grounds of the synagogue on Albert St. He poured flammable liquid on the front door of the religious building and set it alight before fleeing, Victoria Police said. (Nine)

There were 20 people, including children, taking part in Shabbat, however everyone was able to evacuate safely.

Fire crews were able to extinguish the blaze, which was contained to the front entrance.

A 34-year-old man from Toongabbie, NSW, was arrested in the Melbourne CBD about 8.15pm yesterday.

He has been charged with reckless conduct endangering life and serious injury, criminal damage by fire, and possession of a controlled weapon.

He will appear before the Bail and Remand Court today.

Detectives will continue to probe the intent and ideology of the man charged to determine if the incident was an act of terrorism.

Police said detectives are yet to establish any links to two additional incidents on Friday night; a public order incident in Melbourne’s Hardware Lane and an arson attack and criminal damage to a business on Para Road, Greensborough, but will continue to make enquiries.

Police investigate two separate incidents

In a separate incident, a group of 20 protestors stormed and trashed an Israeli restaurant on Hardware Street in Melbourne’s CBD.

Witnesses say the group was chanting “death to the IDF” before they arrived at the restaurant called Miznon.

Diners were fearful as the group threw food and chairs at windows and knocked over tables.

In a separate incident, a group of 20 protestors stormed and trashed an Israeli restaurant. (Nine)

One 28-year-old was arrested at the time and has been released, and a further investigation will follow to identify the alleged offenders.

Dunstan said the small group had peeled away from a larger protest in the CBD.

Victoria Police also revealed a third incident took place this morning, but they have not linked the three separate attacks – it is not clear whether the third attack was an antisemitic motivated attack.

In the third incident, a group of men entered the premises of a business on Para Road in Greensborough at 4.30am.

Three cars were torched and spray paint was used to vandalise vehicles and a wall of the business, which is known to manufacture parts for military planes.

Australian authorities on Saturday condemned what they said was an arson attack on a Melbourne synagogue with worshippers in the building, the latest in a spate of incidents against the nation’s Jewish community.

The fire at the entrance to the synagogue in the east of Victoria’s state capital was sparked on Friday night, police said in a statement. Firefighters extinguished the blaze and there were no injuries to the 20 people inside.

The attack, one of several recent antisemitic incidents in Australia, comes seven months after another synagogue in Melbourne was targeted by arsonists who set a blaze that injured one and caused widespread damage.

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Victoria Premier Jacinta Allan on Saturday said it was “absolutely appalling” that a second Jewish synagogue had been attacked.

“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,” Allan said in a statement.

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Police said they believed the attack, in which flammable liquid was poured on the synagogue’s front door and set alight, was carried out by a male suspect. He has not been identified but is thought to be white and aged in his 30s.

There is “no place in our society for antisemitic or hate-based behaviour,” police said.

Alex Ryvchin, co-CEO of Executive Council of Australian Jewry, an umbrella group for Australia’s Jews, said in a statement the fire was set as those inside sat down to Shabbat dinner.

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Authorities said they were probing if the attack was linked to an incident on Friday night at an inner-city restaurant in which one person was arrested for hindering police.

The Israeli restaurant was extensively damaged in the incident, Ryvchin said.

“These events are a severe escalation directed towards our community,” he said.

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Homes, schools, synagogues and vehicles in Australia have been targeted by antisemitic vandalism and arson since the beginning of the Israel-Gaza war in late 2023.

The incidents have included a fake plan set up by organised crime to attack a Sydney synagogue using a caravan of explosives in order to divert police resources, police said in March.