A 20-year-old man has been charged over his alleged involvement in the theft of a car used in the firebombing of the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne last December. The attack, which occurred on December 6, 2024, gutted the synagogue in Ripponlea and left one person injured.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP), Victoria Police, and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) have arrested the man in relation to the theft of a blue 2020 Volkswagen Golf, which police allege was used by the perpetrators in the arson attack. The vehicle was also involved in several other crimes, including the arson of the Lux Nightclub in South Yarra and a shooting incident in Bundoora, all of which occurred on the same day as the synagogue attack.
The accused man was arrested yesterday in Williamstown, Victoria. Police also executed a search warrant at a residence in Melton South. He has been charged with the theft of a motor vehicle and failing to comply with an order to provide access to his mobile phone applications.
Police believe the arson attack on the synagogue was politically motivated. Surveillance footage released in May showed the blue Golf driving past the synagogue multiple times before parking outside the entrance on the night of the attack. Three individuals, dressed in hoodies and masks, were seen exiting the car, using an axe to damage the entrance, and then pouring liquid from red jerry cans before entering the synagogue.
The accused is set to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on October 3, with strict conditional bail granted. This arrest marks a key development in the ongoing investigation, which had stalled since the attack. The police have warned those involved in the attack that it is only a matter of time before they are apprehended.
AFP Assistant Commissioner Stephen Nutt reiterated the gravity of the situation, saying, “I remind those involved that the penalty for terrorism is life imprisonment.”
Authorities are continuing to appeal for anyone with information to come forward as the investigation into the attack and the involvement of several suspects continues.
