Melbourne police ramp up presence around synagogues, Jewish schools after synagogue set ablaze

Melbourne police are ramping up their presence around synagogues and Jewish schools after a Melbourne synagogue was set ablaze by mask-wearing arsonists in a predawn attack, 7NEWS Australia reports.

Tensions are running high in the Jewish community. Synagogue members heckle Victorian state Premier Jacinta Allan as she visits the Adass Israel Synagogue after the attack, accusing her of playing politics and losing control of the situation.

Allan offered 100,000 Australian dollars ($64,300) to help repair the synagogue, located in Melbourne’s Jewish heartland of Ripponlea. An online fundraiser has also been organized within the community.

Victoria Premier Jacinta Allan pledging $100,000 to rebuild the Synagogue which was firebombed this morning at Ripponlea. @SkyNewsAust #springst pic.twitter.com/F1zPQZjuRE

— Simon Love (@SimoLove) December 6, 2024

Police say there is not enough evidence yet to suggest terrorism, but haven’t ruled it out as a possibility. They are working with counter-terrorism experts to track down the suspects, who have not yet been identified, 7NEWS Australia notes.