A man has been arrested by counter-terrorism police and charged after allegedly setting a Melbourne synagogue alight with 20 worshippers inside.
The front of the East Hebrew Congregation was allegedly set on fire on Albert Street, in East Melbourne, at 8pm on Friday.
The Joint Counter Terrorism Team then arrested a 34-year-old man from Toongabbie, western Sydney, in Melbourne’s CBD at 8.15pm on Saturday.
Victoria Police allege the man walked through Parliament Gardens before setting the front of the synagogue alight.
‘The man allegedly poured a flammable liquid on the front door of the building and set it on fire before fleeing the scene on foot in a westerly direction along Albert Street,’ a spokesman said.
‘There were approximately 20 people inside the synagogue at the time of the incident, taking part in Shabbat.
‘Everyone inside self-evacuated through the rear of the building and were uninjured.’
The man faces charges of reckless conduct endangering life, reckless conduct endangering serious injury, criminal damage by fire, and possessing a controlled weapon.
‘Detectives will continue to examine the intent and ideology of the person charged to determine if the incident is in fact terrorism,’ a Victoria Police spokesman said.
‘Detectives are yet to establish any links to two additional incidents on Friday night; a public order incident in Melbourne’s Hardware Lane and an arson attack and criminal damage to a business on Para Road, Greensborough, but will continue to make inquiries to determine any potential links.’
The man will front Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Sunday.
The arrest comes after police released on Saturday an image of a man they wished to speak to over the alleged arson attack.
East Melbourne Synagogue president Danny Segal and his wife Jenny were among those inside enjoying Shabbat dinner at the time.
‘Somebody saw smoke coming and some passers-by rang the bell and said there’s something going on,’ he said.
He said the incident frightened the children.
‘They were pretty scared because they felt our fear and our shock,’ he said.
The synagogue, one of ‘s oldest, is close to Victoria’s parliament in the heart of the city.