Australian police announced today that they are looking for three people suspected in connection with the arson of a synagogue in Melbourne, which took place on Friday before dawn, reported AFP, quoted by BTA.
The fire is now being treated as a “terrorist attack”, Shane Patton, chief commissioner of police in the south-eastern state of Victoria, told a news conference. According to the police, there were no injuries, but the fire caused “significant damage” along the building.
The fire broke out early Friday morning in the capital city of the Australian state of Victoria. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the act, calling it an "outrage", DPA reported.
"Violence, intimidation and destruction of a place of worship is something we should never see in Australia. This is how life is endangered, and the goal is definitely to instill fear in society," Albanese added.
According to information in the report, two men entered the synagogue and spilled liquid on the floor, which they set alight, police said, adding that the perpetrators were startled by a worshiper and fled. The man who surprised them suffered burns. He received emergency treatment at the scene.
"There was a bang on the door, then some liquid was spilled inside and set on fire. The few people who were in the synagogue at the time fled out the back door, one of them with burns, Benjamin Klein, a member of the synagogue's board of trustees, told ABC radio.
He added that according to him, the fire failed to destroy "a large part of the interior, as well as the holy books, among them the Torah scrolls". "It's scary and the community is really panicking," Klein added.
Synagogue set on fire in Melbourne, police looking for three VIDEO
The case was classified as an act of terrorism, and the prime minister called it an outrage
Dec 9, 2024 05:06 116