International-News

Arson destroys synagogue in Melbourne: australian PM, “Anti-Semitic act”

Australian PM strongly condemns: «Zero tolerance for anti-Semitism»

A major arson attack has devastated a synagogue in south-east Melbourne, Australia, causing extensive damage. According to the authorities, the attack was the work of arsonists, and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the incident, calling it ‘an anti-Semitic act’. Although he has not yet identified the motive, the premier told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation: ‘This is an outrage. Violence, intimidation and destruction in a place of worship has no place in Australia’. Albanese reiterated his promise of ‘zero tolerance’ against anti-Semitism, emphasising that there will be no tolerance for such crimes.

About 60 firefighters with 17 vehicles took several hours to extinguish the fire, fortunately avoiding any serious casualties. Victoria Police Detective Inspector Chris Murray confirmed that the synagogue was badly damaged and described the scene as ‘completely engulfed in flames’. Law enforcement officials are searching for two suspects, who were masked according to a witness, and believe the synagogue was intentionally targeted. ‘What we don’t know yet is why,’ Murray said.

Benjamin Klein, a member of the synagogue council, said that some worshippers were inside the building praying when the fire broke out. ‘They heard loud banging,’ he explained, reporting that flammable liquid was poured inside and then started the fire. ‘If it had happened an hour later, there would have been hundreds of people inside.’ The worshippers managed to escape out the back, but one of them suffered burns to his hand. The interior of the synagogue was described as ‘completely gutted’, with holy books and furniture destroyed.

Klein recalled that the synagogue had already suffered an attack in 1995, when an arson attack destroyed the walls and some Torah scrolls. ‘I remember being here with my grandfather, a Holocaust survivor,’ he added. Despite the devastation, he concluded with determination that the community will rebuild the synagogue, as it has done in the past.

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