Melbourne synagogue fire an act of 'terrorism': Australian PM

Prime Minister Albanese condemns synagogue fire as terrorism, warns of rising anti-Semitism in Australia, sparking political debate.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Sunday (December 8, 2024) called a deliberately lit fire in a Melbourne synagogue an act of "terrorism" and warned about the "worrying rise in anti-Semitism" in Australia.

Mask-wearing arsonists set the Adass Israel Synagogue in a Melbourne suburb of Ripponlea ablaze before dawn on Friday, gutting much of the building, though there were no serious injuries. Authorities are still on the hunt for the perpetrators.

Mr. Albanese said on Sunday the fire at the synagogue was the "definition of terrorism".

"There has been a worrying rise in anti-Semitism," the Prime Minister told reporters, adding that he would continue to "call it out".

"Terrorism is something that is aimed at creating fear in the community and the atrocities that occurred at the synagogue in Melbourne clearly were designed to create fear in the community," he said.

Australian police — who determine whether an incident is a terrorist act — will meet on Monday to see if the fire meets the official criteria, as they continue to hunt down the two arsonists.

The attack has drawn widespread condemnation within Australia and abroad.