Melbourne, Australia: Youth Arrested for Arson Attack on Jewish Synagogue
A young man has been taken into police custody after setting fire to a Jewish place of worship in Melbourne, Australia. Authorities allege that the attack involved three masked individuals who sprayed a flammable liquid inside the synagogue, causing extensive damage and injuring a devotee present at the scene. Australian officials have publicly attributed the attack to Iran.
The accused, 20-year-old Ali Yunus, was charged last week with arson for his involvement in the attack on the Adas Israel Synagogue. Yunus appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday via video link from jail. Following the hearing, the court remanded him into custody.
Benjamin Klein, a board member of the affected synagogue, expressed shock over the attack. He revealed that an official from the Prime Minister’s Office had previously indicated that Iran might be blamed. Klein stated, “It is shocking and deeply painful that a peaceful place of worship in Melbourne was targeted and attacked by foreign terrorists.”
In response to the incident, both state and federal authorities have coordinated efforts to increase security at the temporary location where synagogue members are now gathering. The attack has heightened fear among Jewish Australians, with many concerned about potential future incidents.
Allegations Against Iran
Yunus’ court appearance came just a day after Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese publicly accused Iran’s Revolutionary Guard of orchestrating arson attacks on the Melbourne synagogue and Sydney’s kosher eatery, Louis Continental Kitchen. Iran, however, denied these allegations through its foreign ministry spokesman, Esmail Baghaei, who linked the attacks to diplomatic tensions following Australia’s recognition of the Palestinian state.
Despite these claims, no direct links to Iran have yet been established in the court proceedings involving suspects in the Sydney and Melbourne fires. Nevertheless, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) stated that it possesses evidence suggesting Iran’s involvement in planning and executing the attacks.
Co-Accused Still in Custody
Yunus is not the only individual facing charges in connection with the attacks. His co-accused, 21-year-old Giovanni Laulu from Melbourne’s western suburbs, is also in custody and is set to appear in court. Laulu faces multiple charges, including arson, recklessness endangering life, and car theft. Additionally, two men from Sydney, Wayne Dean Ogden (40) and Juon Amouoi (26), have been charged for their involvement and remain in detention.
All suspects were charged by the Victorian Joint Counter Terrorism Team, which combines personnel from Victoria Police, the Australian Federal Police, and ASIO. ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess stated that the Revolutionary Guard used proxies to conceal its involvement in the anti-Semitic attacks targeting Australia.
Diplomatic Fallout: Expelled Iranian Ambassador
In response to the attacks, Australia has taken the significant step of breaking diplomatic relations with Iran. Ahmed Sadeghi, the Iranian ambassador, was given 72 hours to leave Australia, while three other Iranian diplomats were provided a week to depart. Sadeghi was observed leaving and returning to the embassy on Wednesday before eventually complying with the expulsion order.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong urged all Australian citizens currently in Iran to leave immediately and cautioned travelers against visiting the country, highlighting that Australia no longer maintains an embassy in Tehran. She further stated that Australian diplomats have been relocated to an undisclosed third country for their safety. Wong described Iran as “a regime capable of aggression and violence,” reinforcing the government’s stance on the recent attacks and the subsequent diplomatic measures.
The arson attack on the Adas Israel Synagogue has sent shockwaves throughout the Jewish community in Australia, raising urgent concerns about safety, international interference, and the growing threat of extremist actions targeting religious institutions.
