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Saturday, February 21, 2026
Driver rams into Brisbane Synagogue, is charged with hate crime; police say incident not terror
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A car rammed into the Brisbane Synagogue in Queensland, Australia, last night, narrowly missing a person, footage shows.
The Toyota Hilux is seen backing up into the gates of the Queensland state capital’s largest synagogue while a person moves out of the way, according to the footage.
Police located the vehicle a short while later and arrested a 32-year-old man, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
The driver is charged with wilful damage, serious vilification or hate crime, dangerous operation of a vehicle, and drug offenses, according to the ABC report.
Authorities are treating the incident as criminal, and not terror, the report says. It says that police believe the man did not intend to enter the synagogue.
Australia’s Anti-Defamation League condemns the “violent vehicle attack” on the synagogue, calling it “a chilling assault on a sacred place of worship and a stark reminder that antisemitism in Australia is escalating beyond words.”
“While no one was physically injured, the deliberate targeting of a house of worship has sent shockwaves through the Jewish community and reinforced the urgent need for decisive action against hate-fuelled violence,” it says.
Dr. Dvir Abramovich, the chair of the group, says: “A ute [utility vehicle] didn’t just smash into metal gates last night. It smashed into the idea that Jews in Australia can pray in peace. When a vehicle is driven at a synagogue that is intimidation on wheels.
“We are told this is not being treated as terrorism. But when a synagogue is deliberately attacked, the label matters less than the impact. The fear is real. The shock is real. The message is unmistakable. Since October 7, antisemitism in this country has not whispered, it has roared,” he says.
???? Brisbane Synagogue attack on Friday night ????
Police released CCTV footage of a Toyota Hilux ramming the synagogue's iron gates, narrowly missing a person walking on the other side.
Vision of the incident shows the driver narrowly avoiding hitting a person standing behind the… pic.twitter.com/qAcywFkVMw
— Meshy (@meshygrey) February 21, 2026
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