Source : Perth Now news
Counter-terrorism police have charged a third man with non-terrorism charges for allegedly firebombing a Melbourne synagogue.
Two men aged 20 and a 21-year-old man have now been charged over the attack in Melbourne’s southeast in December 2024.
The latest to be charged is a 20-year-old from Melbourne’s northwest who was in custody on unrelated matters and charged on Friday. He is scheduled to front court on Tuesday facing three charges – criminal damage by fire (arson), conduct endangering life and theft of a motor vehicle.
Adass Israel Synagogue in Ripponlea was targeted and destroyed in the early hours of December 6, 2024.
Australia’s spy agency revealed in August that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had orchestrated the attack.
Victoria Police, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and ASIO have been investigating the attack all under the banner of the Victorian Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT).
AFP Assistant Commissioner Peter Crozier said police suspected members of the public had deliberately lied to authorities.
“We can reveal that we believe some individuals have actively lied to the JCTT, likely in an attempt to hinder our investigation,” he said.
“Let me be very clear. You will not obstruct justice. Now is the time for you to come forward and do the right thing.”
Mr Crozier described the synagogue incident as deplorable.
“Today, the Victoria JCTT is able to confirm that we have identified and charged those we allege attended the synagogue and carried out this deplorable attack,” he said.
“There is no understating the fear and genuine sense of unease this crime created in our society.”
Victoria Police Acting Assistant Commissioner Paul O’Halloran said attacks on places of worship were particularly egregious.
“It’s clear these incidents are designed to create fear and distress when people of all faiths and backgrounds deserve to feel safe in our state,” he said.
“I want to reassure the public again that these investigations remain a priority for Victoria Police and to thank the Jewish community for their assistance and support thus far.”
Prior to Friday’s news, the taskforce had arrested and charged Melbourne men aged 20 and 21 with the same three non-terrorism charges.
The latest 20-year-old Melbourne man charged is alleged to have stolen the communal crime car used in mid-2024, about six months before the synagogue attack.
In August 2025, Anthony Albanese and ASIO director-general Mike Burgess revealed Australian authorities suspected Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had directed the attack, along with a firebombing at a Sydney kosher restaurant.
“Our painstaking investigation uncovered and unpicked the links between the alleged crimes and the commanders in Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, the IRGC,” Mr Burgess said.
“It’s a layer cake of cut-outs between IRGC and the alleged perpetrators conducting crimes.”
The Prime Minister said the attacks were attempts to undermine social cohesion and sow discord.
“These were extraordinary and dangerous acts of aggression orchestrated by a foreign nation on Australian soil,” he said last year.
