December 9th 2024.
The Australian Federal Police has officially confirmed that the recent firebombing attack on a synagogue in Melbourne will be treated as a "terrorist attack" with political motives. The incident, which occurred at the Adass Israel synagogue in Ripponlea at 4:15 am on Friday, has left the Jewish community in a state of shock.
In a statement this morning, AFP Deputy Commissioner Krissy Barrett announced that the investigation has now transitioned into a counter-terrorism investigation. This means that the Victorian joint counter-terrorism team, consisting of members from Victoria Police, AFP, and ASIO, will be leading the investigation. According to Barrett, this team is made up of some of the best terrorism investigators in the country and their involvement will provide the investigation with additional powers, capabilities, and intelligence.
Speaking about the incident, Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton revealed that they are currently pursuing three suspects in connection to the attack. He also mentioned that based on the intelligence gathered so far, it is believed that this was a deliberate act of terrorism.
Last week, the police had reported that two masked intruders were seen spreading accelerant around the synagogue before setting it on fire. A witness who saw this immediately alerted the police, but by the time they arrived, the building was already engulfed in flames.
Rabbi Gabi Kaltmann, the leader of a modern Orthodox congregation in Hawthorn, described the attack as a "pure hate crime." He expressed his shock and dismay at the fact that someone would target a religious place of worship in such a violent manner. According to Rabbi Kaltmann, this is a clear case of antisemitism, with the perpetrators purposely targeting the synagogue during the early hours of the morning when people were present inside.
The police are urging anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has any information or footage related to the attack to come forward and contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. As the investigation continues, more updates are expected to be released.
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