The Australian Federal Police has made the capture of a man suspected of conspiring with foreign spies to help orchestrate the firebombing of a Melbourne synagogue its number one priority.
Krissy Barrett made her first major speech as commissioner today, in which she addressed a growing threat of countries and criminals attempting to “test the resolve” of Australia’s democracy and social cohesion.
“For example, an individual we suspect is responsible for a number of tobacco-related arsons in Australia, is a person of interest in the investigation into the alleged politically motivated arson attack on the Adass Israel Synagogue,” she told the National Press Club.
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett. (Alex Ellinghausen)
Barrett named him as her “number one priority” as she works to protect Australia’s sovereignty.
“That person is a national security threat to this country,” she said.
“Of all the alleged criminals accused of threatening Australia, he is my number one priority, and I have tasked my most experienced criminal hunters to target him.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced late in August that Iran was behind at least two antisemitic attacks in Australia, including the firebombing of Adass Israel Synagogue on December 6, which gutted the building and rocked Melbourne’s Jewish community.
The Adass Israel synagogue in Melbourne’s south-east was left gutted after a firebombing. (Nine)
Israel’s intelligence agency, Mossad, this week named Sardar Amar as the man who planned the antisemitic attacks in Australia, as well as Greece and Germany.
Amar is a senior commander in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the leader of an estimated 11,000 operatives.
An image of Sardar Amar, who Israel claim was behind anti-semitic attacks in Australia and other nations. (Facebook/Prime Minister of Israel)
“Under Amar’s command, a significant mechanism was established to promote attacks against Israeli and Jewish targets both in Israel and abroad,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.
Three local men, aged between 20 and 21, have been charged over last year’s firebombing in Melbourne.
Two men are alleged to have set the synagogue alight, while the third is accused of stealing and driving a car involved in the attack.