Masked arsonists set Australian synagogue ablaze

Masked assailants set the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne ablaze during an early morning attack on Friday, December 6, leaving the building gutted and prompting widespread condemnation. 

The fire began at 4:10 am local time in the Ripponlea suburb, with congregants already inside. Though there were no serious injuries, one individual suffered burns to the hand while escaping.

Witnesses reported seeing two masked individuals spreading an accelerant inside the synagogue before setting it alight, according to Victorian police. Detective Inspector Chris Murray confirmed the fire was deliberate and targeted, although the motive remains unknown. Police are reviewing CCTV footage and have increased patrols to apprehend the perpetrators.

Television footage showed firefighters extinguishing flames through the building’s charred entrance, while synagogue board member Benjamin Klein described the interior as “completely gutted.” Religious items, including Torah scrolls—one brought to Australia during World War II—were saved by congregants forming a human chain.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the attack, calling it an outrage and emphasizing Australia’s zero tolerance for anti-Semitism. Federal police will assist in the investigation. Israeli President Isaac Herzog also denounced the arson and urged firm action against rising anti-Semitic incidents globally.

This incident follows heightened security at the synagogue over the past year and growing concerns within Australia’s Jewish community amid tensions from the Gaza conflict. The Executive Council of Australian Jewry has noted increased threats and fears of such attacks since the war began.

The Gaza conflict has claimed thousands of lives, including over 44,000 in Gaza and more than 1,200 in Israel, intensifying global divisions and sparking protests. The Melbourne attack underscores escalating fears of anti-Semitic violence amid the ongoing crisis.