Overview

• Police allege the Melbourne Hebrew Congregation in South Yarra was defaced six times between March and August, with the most recent incident on August 19.
• Following a Monday raid, investigators seized items and charged the 37-year-old with nearly two dozen offences, including six counts of criminal damage, six counts of marking offensive graffiti, and several driving offences.
• CCTV released this month shows an e-scooter rider vandalising the synagogue, and police say the offender at times used a Scream mask or a bandana to hide his face.
• Alleged slogans included “Free Palestine” and “Iran is Da Bomb” on June 21–22, coinciding with fighting between Israel and Iran.
• The accused was granted bail to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on November 21, and police last week charged a second man over the December firebombing of the Adass Israel Synagogue in Ripponlea.