1 of 2 | A man reads messages on a fence outside the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne, Australia, on Monday. Three suspects remain at large after the synagogue was badly damaged in a targeted firebombing on Friday with congregants inside. Photo by EPA-EFE
Dec. 9 (UPI) — Authorities in Australia confirmed Monday that last week’s Melbourne synagogue fire is being investigated as “a terrorist attack.”
The fire ignited early Friday, causing extensive damage to the Adass Israel synagogue on Glen Eira Avenue in Melbourne’s Ripponlea neighborhood.
Police are hunting for three suspects accused of deliberately starting the blaze.
Witnesses reported seeing suspects enter the synagogue, pour a liquid on the floor and ignite the fire at about 4:10 a.m. The suspects fled the scene when disturbed by a witness attending morning prayer, who sustained a minor injury to his hand.
The fire was being investigated by the Arson and Explosives Squad. Following the declaration, the Joint Counter Terrorism Team has taken over the case.
Australian Federal Police said in a statement Monday that declaring the incident a terrorist attack will provide additional resources and intelligence “to reach an outcome in the investigation as soon as possible as we understand the distress this has caused the broader community.”
Chief Commissioner Shane Patton of Victoria Police told reporters in a press conference Monday that the incident did not initially meet the threshold for a terrorist declaration but that changed following a weekend of investigation work.
He declined to elaborate on the developments made in their investigation, saying only that “we have made significant progress.”
Since the fire, police have increased patrols in the area of the synagogue and are working closely with the Jewish community.
Police said there are no indications that there will be further attacks and are treating fire as an isolated incident.
Victoria Premier Jacinta Allan said their thoughts were with the local and larger Jewish community in Australia.
“This has been an awful, evil, anti-Semitic attack and now we know it has been confirmed as a terrorist attack. We must remember and continue to hold the community who is grieving, who is suffering, in our hearts and give them all of our support,” she said.
“Certainly, that is what I pledge as premier of Victoria, to give the jewish community our ongoing support — the practical support, the work to repair the synagogue, support the work of Victoria Police and the increased police presence.”
On Monday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the launch of an anti-Semitism task force. He said AFP Special Operation Avalite was in response to Friday’s fire, which is the third arson attack after MP Josh Burns’ electorate office was targeted in June and a series of cars were torched in November.
Australian Federal Police said the taskforce will be comprised of 22 offices and analysts deployed nationwide to investigate incitement to violence against members of groups, advocacy of terrorism or genocide and threats or harassment using telecommunication services.
“In Australia today, those of Jewish ethnicity or religion are being targeted because of who they are,” AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw said in a statement. “This is a crime. This needs to stop.
The fire comes as the number of anti-Semitic incidents in Australia has been soaring amid Israel’s war against Iran-backed Hamas in the Palestinian enclave of Gaza, which has killed tens of thousands of people.
According to a report published Sunday by the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, there were more than 2,000 anti-Jewish incidents tallied during the 12-month period ending Sept. 30, marking an increase of 316% compared to the same period a year prior.