A mob of pro-Palestinian protesters vandalized an Israeli-owned restaurant in Melbourne on Friday evening just minutes after a nearby historic synagogue was targeted in an arson attack, while worshippers were inside, Australian authorities said.
About 20 anti-Israel protesters stormed the Miznon restaurant at around 8:30 p.m. local time, with the Herald Sun citing witnesses who said the mob chanted “Death to the IDF.” Rap duo Bob Vylan led a crowd in shouting the same phrase at the Glastonbury festival in England days earlier.
The protesters — many of them masked — hurled furniture and food at the restaurant, shattering one of its outer windows as customers dined both inside and outside.
Police said they arrested a 28-year-old protester and questioned several other participants at the scene, identifying each of them for the purpose of follow-up investigation.
Activists say they targeted the Miznon restaurant because it is co-owned by Shahar Segal, who has served as a spokesperson for the US- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which has been rejected by other aid groups who say its food distribution sites expose Gazans to IDF gunfire.
Around a half hour before the incident at Miznon, police said a man entered the grounds of the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation and poured flammable liquid on the door before setting it alight while worshippers were inside.
Roughly 20 people were inside the synagogue at the time of the fire, but they managed to evacuate before anyone was injured, authorities said, adding that firefighters arrived at the scene within minutes to put out the blaze.
Damage from the fire was contained to the entrance of the synagogue, police said, adding that while the suspect remained at large, the incident was caught on security cameras.
Police said they believed the attack was carried out by a male suspect. He has not been identified but is thought to be white and aged in his 30s.
There is “no place in our society for antisemitic or hate-based behavior,” police said.
Responding to the synagogue arson, Acting Victoria Police Commander Zorka Dunstan said, “These crimes are disgusting and abhorrent, but at this stage, we are not declaring this a terrorist incident.”
“In the course of our investigation, we will examine the intent and the ideology of the persons involved, or person, to determine if this is in fact terrorism. At the moment, we are categorizing it as a serious criminal incident and responding accordingly,” she added.
A terrorism declaration opens the investigation to more resourcing and can result in charges that carry longer prison sentences.
Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel said the attacks were terrorist acts and called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice.
“Targeting Jewish houses of worship and an Israeli restaurant is terrorism, aimed at intimidating an entire community simply because of their religion and identity,” wrote Haskel on X.
“The horrifying attacks overnight on a synagogue and an Israeli business in Melbourne are yet another reminder of how far racist, antisemitic hate crimes have spread in the heart of Australia,” she said.
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