A man has been arrested for his alleged role in last year’s arson attack on the Adass Israel Synagogue of Melbourne.
The Werribee man, 21, will be interviewed in relation to offences of arson, conduct endangering life and theft of a motor vehicle, police said.
Authorities will allege the man is one of three individuals who broke into the synagogue in Ripponlea in the city’s south-east and set the fire in the early hours of December 6.
The blaze ripped through the synagogue, forcing several people to flee to safety through a back door and destroying the building.
Police are planning to provide an update soon.
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5m agoWed 30 Jul 2025 at 3:57am
International investigation
The police officer says she is now able to share some “limited detail” about how the crime was orchestrated, as well as why the investigation was so long and complicated.
“Our investigation is not limited to Australia,” she says.
“It involves exploring criminals offshore, and we suspect these criminals worked with criminal associates in Victoria to carry out the arson attack.”
She says the motivation for the attack is still being assessed.
“We are also working closely with our Five Eyes partners and international partners to ensure our collective powers and capabililties are drawn upon.”
9m agoWed 30 Jul 2025 at 3:53am
Hundreds of police involved in investigation
Deputy Commissioner Barrett says 220 members of the police force have together spent more than 50,000 hours investigating the December arson attack.
“It remains an investigation that runs seven days a week,” she says.
12m agoWed 30 Jul 2025 at 3:50am
Arrested man one of three alleged arsonists
Krissy Barrett from the Australian Federal Police is speaking now. She’s described the arson attack as a crime as “despicable as it was dangerous”.
She alleges the 21-year-old from Werribee arrested today was one of three people directly responsible for the arson attack.
17m agoWed 30 Jul 2025 at 3:46am
Police ‘relentless’ in pursuit
The deputy commissioner stresses that the investigation is active and anyone with information is urged to come forward.
“Victoria Police will continue to work with our law enforcement partners in the AFP and ASIO to do everything we can to hold those responsible to account,” she says.
“We will be relentless in our pursuit.”
22m agoWed 30 Jul 2025 at 3:40am
Further arrests expected
“What I want to make clear today is that this investigation remains ongoing and we anticipate there will be further arrests,” Deputy Commissioner Steendam says.
Today’s arrest follows that of a 20-year-old Williamstown man who was charged earlier this month in relation to a vehicle allegedly used in relation to the arson attack.
“I want to reassure Victorians, particularly those in the Jewish community, that we remain relentless in our pursuit of finding all of those responsible for this crime and holding them to account,” the deputy commissioner says.
24m agoWed 30 Jul 2025 at 3:38am
21-year-old facing three charges
The deputy commissioner says the 21-year-old is being interviewed in relation to three charges: arson, conduct endangering life and theft of a motor vehicle.
“Investigators will allege that this man deliberately set fire to the Ripponlea synagogue on the 6th of December last year,” she says.
She says the arson charge carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.
28m agoWed 30 Jul 2025 at 3:35am
Seven properties raided, man arrested
Deputy Commissioner Steendam says police executed seven search warrants at residential properties across Melbourne this morning and arrested a 21-year-old man in relation to the arson attack.
Those properties were in:
Point CookToorakAirport WestHadfieldWerribeeWeir ViewsCoburg
1h agoWed 30 Jul 2025 at 3:02am
Police are due to speak shortly
We’re expecting to hear from Deputy Commissioner Wendy Steendam from Victoria Police alongside Deputy Commissioner Krissy Barrett from the Australian Federal Police.
The arrest comes after a Williamstown man, 20, was charged earlier this month for allegedly stealing a car which was then allegedly used to drive to the synagogue on December 6.
In May, authorities released CCTV footage of three people getting out of an alleged stolen VW Golf, with two seen pouring the contents of several jerry cans into the synagogue and setting the liquid alight.
CCTV shows two men pouring the contents of several jerry cans into the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne’s south-east. (Supplied: AFP/Victoria Police)
On Wednesday, authorities also executed seven search warrants across Melbourne’s west and north, seizing various items, including electronic devices, which will be forensically examined.
The investigation has been carried out by the Victorian Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT), which includes Victoria Police, the Australian Federal Police and Australia’s security agency ASIO.
The JCTT is treating the arson as politically motivated and said further arrests and charges were expected soon.