Australia Condemns Deliberate Fire Targeting a Jewish Synagogue in Melbourne

Australian authorities condemned a criminal incident targeting a Jewish synagogue in the city of Melbourne, describing it as "deliberate act" while worshippers were inside the building, adding to a series of recent attacks against the Jewish community in the country.

According to a statement issued by the local police, the fire broke out on Friday evening at the synagogue located east of Melbourne, the capital of Victoria state, where firefighters managed to control the fire at the entrance without any injuries among the dozens present inside.

In an official statement, Jacinta Allan, the Premier of Victoria, condemned the incident, stating that "any attack on a place of worship is an act of hatred, and any attack on a Jewish place of worship is an act of anti-Semitism".

Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect poured a flammable substance on the front door of the synagogue before setting it on fire, according to the police statement. They indicated that the officers believe the perpetrator is a white man in his thirties, without revealing his identity yet.

Police released footage from surveillance cameras showing a suspected man described as "of Caucasian descent, with a beard and long hair, wearing dark-colored clothes", as reported by "9 news" website.

This attack comes seven months after another Jewish synagogue in Melbourne was deliberately set on fire, causing significant damage and injuring one person.