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<\/p>\nA man has been charged after allegedly ramming the gates of Brisbane’s largest synagogue with a car overnight.<\/p>\n
Police were called on Friday night after a black ute allegedly struck and knocked down the gates of the Brisbane Synagogue on Margaret Street in the CBD about 7:15pm, before leaving the scene.<\/p>\n
No-one was injured.<\/p>\n
Acting superintendent Michael Hogan said police responded quickly and tracked the vehicle with the assistance of Polair.<\/p>\n
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Superintendent Michael Hogan says the incident is not being treated as a potential terrorist act. (ABC News: Tara Cassidy)<\/p>\n
Superintendent Hogan said after allegedly ramming the gates and leaving the scene, the man was tracked heading back towards the synagogue.<\/p>\n
Police located the car a short time later and took a 32-year-old man into custody.<\/p>\n
Not being treated as terrorist incident<\/p>\n
Superintendent Hogan said police do not believe the man was trying to injure anyone.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“It’s very clear that he’s intended to do some damage to the gates,” he said.<\/p>\n
“There’s certainly no indication \u2026 that he attempted to enter the synagogue at all.”<\/p>\n
He said the incident was not being treated as a terrorism offence.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“This is a criminal investigation. Police are considering the man’s mental health and intoxication as being contributing factors,” Superintendent Hogan said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Workers have been called in to fix the gate, with the synagogue closed until further notice. (ABC News: Tara Cassidy)<\/p>\n
It is believed the man was acting alone.<\/p>\n
He has been charged with wilful damage serious vilification or hate crime, dangerous operation of a vehicle, and drug offences.<\/p>\n
He appeared in Brisbane Magistrates Court this morning.<\/p>\n
Anyone with relevant information or video footage has been urged to contact police.<\/p>\n
‘Very distressing’<\/p>\n
Vice president of the Queensland Jewish Board of Deputies Libby Burke said the community was “deeply distressed” that the synagogue had been targeted.<\/p>\n
“This attack is not only an attack on my community, it is an attack on all of us,” she said.<\/p>\n
“A synagogue is a sacred place, a place of prayer, reflection, and community.<\/p>\n
“To see its gates viciously rammed is profoundly devastating and is not dissimilar to what we have seen throughout the globe, vehicles used as weapons to kill and harm Jews.”<\/p>\n
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Libby Burke says the incident is “deeply distressing” to the Jewish community. (ABC News)<\/p>\n
She said the community was “extraordinarily grateful” to the Queensland Police Service for its “prompt action” and support.<\/p>\n
“Our elderly, our children, basically all Jews in Queensland should be able to attend synagogue and live our lives free from fear,” she said.<\/p>\n
In a statement posted to social media, Premier David Crisafulli said he had spoken with police about the “very concerning” incident.<\/p>\n
“This will be very distressing for the Jewish community in Queensland,” Mr Crisafulli said.<\/p>\n