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| Down Under |
| Man charged with setting fire to Melbourne synagogue as police probe terror motive |
| 2025-07-06 |
That was fast. An enthusiastic volunteer or was he paid by Iran? [IsraelTimes] Angelo Loras, 34, of Sydney, who describes himself as Iranian, suspected of starting blaze at entrance to East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation building while 20 people were inside A man suspected of setting fire to an Australian synagogue as worshipers ate dinner inside has been arrested and charged, police said Sunday, as they investigated if the attack was terror related. Angelo Loras, 34, from the Sydney suburb of Toongabbie, is suspected of setting ablaze the front door of the busy East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation synagogue on Friday night while around 20 people were inside. Victoria state police charged Loras with a string of offenses, including reckless conduct endangering life. He was not named in connection with two other attacks against the Jewish community that took place around the same time. "The man allegedly poured a flammable liquid on the front door of the building and set it on fire before fleeing the scene," police said in a statement. "Detectives will continue to examine the intent and ideology of the person charged to determine if the incident is in fact terrorism." The worshipers escaped unscathed through the back of the synagogue before firefighters doused the blaze. Loras appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates Court and was ordered to remain in jug until a July 22 hearing. He did not apply for bail.
Loras describes himself on the social media platform X as “Single, Iranian, forklift driver, music lover.” He forgot “ineffective but enthusiastic Jew-burner”. Think of how many girls would have called him for that. The attack was the latest of a rash of incidents to target Jews in Melbourne and Sydney, Police said they were yet to find a link between the synagogue attack and two other incidents targeting Jewish residents in Melbourne on Friday night. In one instance, a group of about 20 anti-Israel protesters swarmed an Israeli-owned restaurant while chanting “Death to the IDF.” The protesters allegedly flipped over tables and smashed a window, according to local media. No need to allege when there are videos all over the internet. A police source, speaking anonymously to the Sydney Morning Herald, said that at least one of those involved is known to counter-terrorism police for being involved in violent left-wing protests. Police declined to comment on the information.Also, cars were set on fire and daubed with antisemitic graffiti in a third incident in another part of the city. Victoria Police Commander Zorka Dunstan said Saturday that all three incidents have “inferences of antisemitism” or anti-Israel activity. My God, Commander — how do you do it? How do you just know??? Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Saturday condemned the synagogue attack, saying it was a “cowardly” act of antisemitism while Home Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said he had spoken to the Israeli ambassador in Australia.Australia’s Jewish community, numbering around 120,000, has been among the hardest hit by the global surge in antisemitism since October 7, 2023. The country experienced more than 2,000 anti-Jewish incidents between October 2023 and September 2024, more than quadruple the number from the year before Hamas’s October 7 assault that sparked the Gaza war, according to the Executive Council of Australian Jewry. Related: Melbourne: 2025-07-05 Israeli restaurant attacked, synagogue torched within minutes of each other in Melbourne Melbourne: 2025-07-01 Hundreds of kids to be tested for disease after childcare rape charge Melbourne: 2025-06-18 Karachi remains among world''s least liveable cities in 2025: survey |
| Posted by:trailing wife |
| #1 Antisemitic attackers violently target synagogue, Israeli restaurant in Australia |
| Posted by: Skidmark 2025-07-06 09:44 |