More than three months ago a synagogue in Melbourne was firebombed, in a dramatic escalation of antisemitic attacks in Australia. Despite initial expectations of an impending arrest, no one has been held accountable yet. Police say the investigation is complex and remains a top priority.
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00:00These investigations are always complex.
00:07Something that has hit the whole of Australia.
00:11Quite horrendous.
00:12Quite sad.
00:13We're going to build bigger and better and the community is resilient and strong.
00:18No ancients from the front, but we'll get you through the back.
00:22More than three months ago, in the early hours of the morning, the Adas Israel synagogue
00:27in Melbourne was firebombed.
00:29These walls were both covered with holy books.
00:31It's not the first time the synagogue's been targeted.
00:34In 1995, it was severely damaged in an arson attack.
00:39Mr Klein's grandfather was the president back then.
00:43He was himself a Holocaust survivor, sorry.
00:47And really it was quite unbelievable for him to be standing in the ruins of a synagogue
00:51in Melbourne where he ran away from all that and that's what happened.
00:55So quite, yeah, quite difficult.
00:57In this latest attack, three people broke in in the early hours of the morning of December 6.
01:04The terrorists came through that window over there, smashed the glass over there.
01:08They were disturbed and that's when they lit it and the whole place went up.
01:12There was an apparent level of professionalism.
01:15The attackers wore balaclavas, didn't speak and used brooms to spread the accelerant.
01:21Does that speak to them perhaps having been hired or being experienced in this activity?
01:27I think that's material that will come out during the investigation.
01:29I know that has been something that the New South Wales Police have been looking at with
01:34attacks there as to whether people were paid to do it.
01:37Is that a line of inquiry here in Victoria?
01:39I think they'll keep their minds open to everything.
01:42Assistant Commissioner Chris Gilbert was there the morning it happened and remains in weekly
01:47contact with members of the congregation.
01:50The mood in Riponlee that day was palpable, it was horrible.
01:56The Australian Federal Police's terrorism unit has been brought in to investigate.
02:01But there's frustration about a lack of arrests.
02:04We had briefings through the process and it was understood that there was enough information
02:09that there may be arrests forthcoming in days and that was just before Christmastime.
02:15They will go through a number of avenues of inquiry.
02:18They will go through that meticulously and methodically and when they are ready for an
02:22arrest they will do so and they'll let the community know.
02:25Has there been a postponement of an arrest in an attempt to get more people involved?
02:29I don't get a sense of that.
02:30I think the investigation, as I said, is complex, it's an arson investigation, it's suspected
02:36terrorism.
02:37For now, the only visitors to the synagogue are building inspectors, cleaners and architects.
02:44So this is very much not how it used to look.
02:49Worshippers will return, but not for another two years.
02:53There are now high hopes that this section, built by Holocaust survivors, will be able
02:58to be saved.
02:59I think there's a huge relief.
03:02Planning is underway to rebuild the synagogue, even bigger than before, on the rest of the
03:06site.
03:07And in the meantime, a temporary facility is being fitted out.
03:12People are travelling from far and wide to show support.
03:15We thought it was important to come here and express our solidarity with the entire Jewish
03:21community in Melbourne and in Australia.
03:23A sentiment that's helped motivate the Adas Israel congregation in its determination to
03:29move forward.