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Police reiterate suspicion Adass Israel Synagogue arson was ‘politically motivated’ as new footage released ‘Communal crime car’ used by three people who torched Melbourne’s Adass Israel synagogue, police allege
(about 2 hours later)
Adass community warned of ‘confronting’ vision of Melbourne synagogue being set alight in December 2024 Police reiterate suspicion arson was politically motivated, as ‘confronting’ new footage released to assist investigation
The ultra-orthodox Adass community in Melbourne’s south-eastern suburbs has been offered support ahead of the public release of “confronting” vision showing their synagogue being set alight in December. Police allege a “communal crime car” was used by three people who torched an ultra-orthodox synagogue in Melbourne’s south-eastern suburbs in December, with one person accused of recording the crime on a phone.
The Victorian Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) has released images of those allegedly responsible for last year’s Adass Israel Synagogue arson attack in Victoria, while also reiterating their suspicion it was “a politically motivated attack”. The “blue Golf sedan” was allegedly stolen from the suburb of Croydon in Melbourne’s outer east and discovered by police at an address in Melton in the city’s north-west in December. Police allege it has been linked to a series of crimes including an arson attack on the Lux nightclub on Chapel Street in November.
It remains a terrorism investigation. In a statement, the JCTT said investigators had reviewed hundreds of hours of CCTV and were releasing footage to “encourage members of the public, and those with knowledge of this crime, to come forward”. Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email
Community leaders were told on Thursday morning that the footage would be released by police ahead of a press conference in the afternoon. Police also warned community leaders to prepare their congregation for the distressing vision. Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email
A statement issued to the kehilla, which means congregation, by Adass leaders on Thursday morning advised police would “be releasing footage from the shul recorded on the morning of the fire”. Victoria’s police’s assistant commissioner, Tess Walsh, said there was nothing linking the two people arrested over the nightclub fire on Thursday morning to the attack on the ultra-orthodox Adass synagogue. But police confirmed they may be “forensically linked” to the synagogue attack.
“They will seeking public assistance if anyone recognises or can identify anything from the footage,” the statement said. “They have warned that the footage may be confronting for members of our Kehilla. If you have any questions or require any support please be in touch with the Kehilla board.” Police allege the car was also used as part of a shooting and arson attack in Bundoora on the same night as the synagogue fire. The car has also been linked to “a number of serious and violent crimes” including aggravated burglaries and “petrol drive-offs” in Brunswick, Cranbourne North, Caulfield South and Hampton. The car was fitted with cloned plates, police said on Thursday.
Police released the CCTV vision as part of a public appeal for information, detailing that it showed a “blue Golf sedan drive past the Adass Israel Synagogue multiple times before parking outside the main entrance on 6 December 2024”. “Police believe this car was used as what I would describe as a communal crime car and it has been driven to a number of locations committing serious offences,” said Australian federal police assistant commissioner, Stephen Nutt.
Police said the footage then showed “three individuals dressed in hoodies and masks get out of the vehicle and use an axe to damage the entrance of the synagogue”, and “at least two individuals commence pouring the contents of red jerry cans inside the entrance of the synagogue, before entering the building”. “It is possible the car was used by several different people and groups to commit these crimes over the November and December last year period.”
The Victorian Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) on Thursday released images and footage of those allegedly responsible for the attack on the synagogue to “encourage members of the public, and those with knowledge of this crime, to come forward”.
In the days after the synagogue fire, the Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, said the incident had “been confirmed as a terrorist attack”. Asked about that comment on Thursday, Nutt used different language and said that was still being investigated.
“At this stage, we have not determined that this is a terrorist act – that remains a key aspect of the investigation,” Nutt said.
Members of the Adass community were offered support before the public release of “confronting” vision showing their synagogue being set alight.
A statement issued to the kehilla, which means congregation, by Adass leaders on Thursday morning advised that police would “be releasing footage from the shul recorded on the morning of the fire”.
“They will be seeking public assistance if anyone recognises or can identify anything from the footage,” the statement said. “They have warned that the footage may be confronting for members of our Kehilla. If you have any questions or require any support please be in touch with the Kehilla board.”
Police said CCTV vision showed a “blue Golf sedan drive past the Adass Israel Synagogue multiple times before parking outside the main entrance on 6 December 2024”.
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The force said the footage then showed “three individuals dressed in hoodies and masks get out of the vehicle and use an axe to damage the entrance of the synagogue”, and “at least two individuals commence pouring the contents of red jerry cans inside the entrance of the synagogue, before entering the building”.
“It shows the individuals making multiple trips to the Golf to get more jerry cans, which were poured inside the synagogue before the liquid was ignited.”“It shows the individuals making multiple trips to the Golf to get more jerry cans, which were poured inside the synagogue before the liquid was ignited.”
Police alleged the Golf was a stolen car that was also used in other offences before synagogue arson, including the Lux nightclub arson in South Yarra in November 2024, and an arson and shooting that occurred in Bundoora on the same night as the synagogue arson attack. Nutt said police believed there were “multiple offenders directly and indirectly linked to the synagogue arson”.
AFP assistant commissioner Stephen Nutt said police believed there were “multiple offenders directly and indirectly linked to the synagogue arson”. Police would not comment on whether investigators had seen the vision allegedly recorded by one of the suspects.
More details soon … Walsh acknowledged the Jewish community’s frustration about the length of the investigation.
“You can see the way the investigation has had to be managed,” she said. “This is not a single investigation into a single occurrence. The use of this car has led us to multiple different crimes and they will take time to investigate and manage properly.”
Walsh said the alleged use of a “communal crime car” was “relatively new, but not unknown”.
“Obviously the person who managed the car is a person of interest in the investigation,” Walsh said.