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Australian synagogue fire sparks antisemitism fears amid wave of hate crimes

A wave of antisemitic attacks has roiled the country since the start of the war in Gaza in October 2023

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Rabbi Dovid Gutnick stands outside the damaged exterior of the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation in Melbourne. Photo: AAP/dpa
An arsonist set fire to the door of a Melbourne synagogue and forced the congregation to flee on Friday. The incident comes seven months after criminals destroyed a synagogue in the same Australian city with an accelerant-fuelled blaze that left a worshipper injured.

A man doused the double front doors of the downtown East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation and set them alight around 8pm, a police statement said on Saturday.

Around 20 worshippers sharing a meal to mark the Shabbat Jewish day of rest evacuated through a rear door and no one was injured.

Firefighters extinguished the blaze which was contained to the front entrance, police said.

A wave of antisemitic attacks has roiled Australia since the October 7, 2023, Hamas assault on Israel triggered the war in Gaza.
East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation President Danny Segal (centre) speaks to the media outside the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation in Melbourne. Photo: AAP/dpa
East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation President Danny Segal (centre) speaks to the media outside the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation in Melbourne. Photo: AAP/dpa

Jewish and Muslim organisations and hate researchers have recorded drastic spikes in hate-fuelled incidents against both groups. The Australian government last year appointed special envoys to combat antisemitism and Islamophobia in the community.

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