Melbourne, Australia (AP) – A person was charged on arson attack on a melbourne on Sunday Addition In a clear growth of antisemtic violence in Australia’s second most populous city.
The 34 -year -old Angelo Lorus, with arson in the Melbourne Magistrate Court, was charged with arson and property damage. He was also accused of placing a “controlled weapon” on Saturday when he was arrested. The charge sheet does not say what the weapon was.
Sydney resident did not enter a petition or applied to be released on bail. Magistrate John Letter detained Lorus to appear in the next court on 22 July.
The flammable liquid was ignited at the door of the Eastern Melbourne Sinagog, also known as the Eastern Melbourne Hebrew Congressation, on Friday night 20 worshipers shared a shabra.
The congregation survived without damage through a rear door and firefighters contained the explosion in the entry area of the 148 -year -old building.
Rabbi Dovid Gutnik, who was inside the synagogue with his family on Friday, said the security cameras showed the culprit that the doorbell was ringing twice before the flames.
Gutnik’s 13 -year -old son was at the synagogue office at that time and decided against opening the door after watching the visitor on the security camera monitor.
“We use safety cameras to assess people that ring the door bells. Generally, we do not hesitate to enter someone,” Guttonik told the Associated Press.
He said, “My son hesitated and did not respond. Until I came forward, smoke and flames were coming under the door,” he said.
It was the first of the three clear demonstrations of antisemtic violence across the city on Friday and Saturday morning.
Authorities have so far installed a link between events in the synagogue and two businesses.
Antisemitism convicted for attacks on businesses
In addition, in the city of Melbourne on Friday night, about 20 masked protesters harassed dinner at an Israel -owned restaurant.
A restaurant window was torn, the table was flipped and the protesters thrown as “IDF death”, referring to Israeli defense forces. A 28 -year -old woman was arrested at the scene and accused of obstructing the police.
The police is investigating a business spray-painting in the northern suburb of Melbourne and arson attack on three businessmen related vehicles before morning on Saturday. Vehicles were also graffiti.
Police said there were antisementic “informance” at the scene. This business was also aiming for Palestinian performances in the previous year.
Political leaders condemn antisementism
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke met with Jewish leaders at the damaged orderly on Sunday.
Burke told reporters that investigators were looking for a possible link between three incidents.
“At this stage, our authorities have not drawn relations between them. But obviously there is a link in antismitism. There is a link in bigotry. There is a link to either to call for violence, take violent action or take violent action. They are very connected that way,” Burke said.
Burke said, “There were three attacks that night and none of them were in Australia. Arson attacks, chanting calls for death, other attacks and frescoes – none of it were in Australia and were attacking Australia,” Berk said.
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “He called upon the Australian government to take all action to deal with the rioters to the entire extent of the law and to take all action to prevent similar attacks in the future.”
Netanyahu said in a statement on Saturday, “I see with the antisemtic attacks last night in Melbourne, which attempted to make a violent attack against an Israeli restaurant by the arson and Palestinian rioters in the city.”
He said, “With an attempt to attack the IDF and attack the place of Pooja, condemnable antisementic attacks, serious hate crimes that should be uprooted,” he said.
Rod McGirk, Associated Press
