Alarming Violence Stuns Melbourne's Jewish Community

Following two violent incidents—a synagogue arson and a disturbance at an Israeli eatery—Melbourne's Jewish community expressed deep concern about safety. Local police are investigating these events, which occurred within an hour of each other, as authorities work to address rising tensions.

Australia's Jewish community is grappling with growing anxiety after two troubling incidents on Friday night in Melbourne, including an arson attack at a synagogue and a hostile demonstration at an Israeli restaurant. These events are part of a disturbing trend of violence against Jewish institutions in the country.

The Victoria police confirmed that they are probing the two separate occurrences, which unfolded around 8 p.m. and occurred about one mile apart. In the first incident, a man is reported to have doused the front door of the East Melbourne Synagogue with a flammable liquid before igniting it and fleeing. Fortunately, around 20 individuals inside were able to evacuate through a rear exit. Firefighters successfully contained the blaze to the entrance, with no injuries or arrests reported so far. An arson investigator has been deployed to further examine the scene.

Simultaneously, a separate group of roughly 20 protesters gathered near a prominent area in the city, directing “offensive chants” towards patrons dining at the restaurant. The police noted that one protester was arrested for “hindering police”. Local media indicated that the protest led to overturned tables and projectiles being thrown at the restaurant, causing a broken window. A 28-year-old man arrested during the protest has since been released with a summons.

A representative from the restaurant declined to provide any comments on the incident while Victoria's Premier, Jacinta Allan, released a statement emphasizing the clear intentions behind both episodes, underscoring the growing concern over safety among the Jewish community in the region.