The Victorian Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) has charged a 20-year-old man over the alleged theft of a blue 2020-model VW Golf sedan used in the arson attack on Melbourne’s Adass Israel Synagogue and other serious crimes.
Police allege the car was stolen from Melton, in Melbourne’s outer west, on Nov. 29, 2024—just days before it was used in the Dec. 6 attack at the Ripponlea synagogue, which saw masked men throw accelerants and ignite a blaze as early morning worshippers fled to safety.
At least one person was injured.
Authorities also believe the same vehicle was used in an arson attack on the Lux nightclub in South Yarra in November, as well as a separate arson and shooting in Bundoora on the same night as the synagogue fire.
Ongoing Terror Investigation
The JCTT—which includes Victoria Police, the Australian Federal Police, and Australian Security and Intelligence Organisation (ASIO)—continue to treat the synagogue blaze as a terrorism matter.“The stolen car, referred to by police as a ‘communal crime car’, was captured in CCTV footage released in May, showing three individuals arriving at the synagogue in Ripponlea. Two were seen pouring the contents of jerry cans and setting the building alight before fleeing in the Golf towards the western suburbs,” police said.
Court Date Set for October
The accused was arrested in Williamstown on July 16 but was granted strict conditional bail and is due to appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court on Oct. 3.A concurrent search of a Melton South home was also conducted, where investigators seized items now under further examination.
Authorities are urging the public to come forward with any information about individuals connected to the stolen vehicle or involved in the attacks.
Symes Hails Progress in Investigation
Victoria’s acting premier, Jaclyn Symes, has welcomed the arrest of the man.“The community welcomes the progress of the investigation and charges send a really strong and comforting message that police have been actively investigating this and justice is being applied,” she told reporters in Sunshine, in Melbourne’s west.
Symes thanked police and described the charges as a “breakthrough.”
“Getting to an arrest demonstrates that the investigation is at a critical point. I’m sure that once they have the ability to question who they’ve arrested, that there may be further arrests down the track.”
On July 5, another synagogue in East Melbourne was targeted when a man set fire to its entrance while 20 people were inside.
That same evening, a group of protesters stormed an Israeli restaurant.
