There's been a night of antisemitic violence in Melbourne after a synagogue was firebombed and an Israeli restaurant was also attacked by 20 masked people who threw chairs. Local Jewish leaders are calling for immediate action.

Melbourne

Melbourne's Jewish community has been shaken by three targeted attacks within eight hours. The incidents included an arson attempt at an East Melbourne synagogue with worshippers inside, a group of masked protesters disrupting an Israeli restaurant, and anti-Semitic graffiti and arson at a tech business in Greensborough. No injuries were reported, and police are investigating whether the incidents are connected. Authorities have condemned the attacks, with the Prime Minister and Victoria's police minister both calling for those responsible to be brought to justice. Police have pledged increased patrols in the affected areas and are reviewing their response to upcoming public rallies.

Melbourne's Jewish community suffer three targeted, violent attacks

Three targeted attacks in the space of eight hours. A night that has struck further fear into Melbourne's Jewish community. We are reaching a boiling point where the Jewish community no longer feels safe in this city. Twenty worshippers, including children, were inside this East Melbourne synagogue at eight o'clock last night when a man poured accelerant at its doorstep and set it on fire. Fire crews rushed to the scene and all managed to escape uninjured. But the incident, just eight months after the Adas Israel firebombing in Ripon Lee, has appalled and shattered the community. This is an act of pure evil, it's an act of terrorism, it's a murder attempt. This is not just an attack upon Jews or the Jewish community, it is an attack upon our way of life. Jewish leaders gathered outside the synagogue today to express their dismay. This is domestic terrorism. When you target a synagogue with people inside it, this is domestic terrorism, make no mistake, and these people need to be brought to justice. We do recognise that these crimes are disgusting and abhorrent, but at this stage we are not declaring this a terrorist incident. That may change over the course of the investigation. At eight-thirty last night, a group of twenty masked pro-Palestine protesters stormed Israeli restaurant Miznon in Hardware Lane, chanting, hurling chairs and traffic cones, and overturning tables. A 28-year-old Footscray woman was arrested for hindering police and has been released on summons. There'll be follow-up investigation, we'll source any CCTV that's available and there'll be further investigation as a result. At four-thirty this morning, three cars were graffitied with anti-Semitic messages and set on fire outside a tech business associated with the aerospace industry in Greensboro. Police are still trying to determine if the three incidents are linked. Police have pledged further patrols in areas where these attacks were carried out, but cannot confirm extra resources on the ground for tomorrow's Free Palestine rally in the CBD. As a result of what occurred today, we are obviously reviewing our response tomorrow and making sure that it's appropriate. The Prime Minister said anti-Semitism has no place in Australia. Those responsible for these shocking acts must face the full force of the law, a sentiment echoed by Victoria's police minister. Let's be really clear that this behaviour is totally unacceptable. Intimidation and fear will not stand for it here in Victoria. Sam Mills, 10 News.

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