Overview

• A 34-year-old man from Toongabbie has been charged with reckless conduct endangering life, criminal damage by fire and possessing a controlled weapon after pouring flammable liquid on the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation’s front door and setting it alight during Shabbat services on July 4
• The Joint Counter Terrorism Security Investigation Unit is leading the inquiry and has appealed for CCTV, dashcam footage and any additional information to establish motive and ideology
• Investigators are exploring connections to a protest at Israeli-owned Miznon restaurant in the CBD, where around 20 demonstrators stormed the venue chanting anti-IDF slogans and one person was arrested for hindering police
• Police are also probing a related early-morning incident in Greensborough, where offenders spray-painted anti-Jewish graffiti and set fire to three vehicles outside a local business
• Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Premier Jacinta Allan and Jewish community leaders have condemned the attacks and urged expedited passage of stronger hate-crime and protest legislation