More than three months ago a synagogue in Melbourne was firebombed in a dramatic escalation of antisemitic attacks in Australia. Despite initial expectations of an impending arrest, no one has been held accountable yet. Police say the investigation is complex and remains a top priority. In the wake of the attack, the congregation is moving forward with plans for a rebuild and a temporary facility.
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00:00These investigations are always complex.
00:08Something that has hit the whole of Australia.
00:11Quite horrendous.
00:12Quite sad.
00:13We're going to build Big Man Meadow and you know the community is resilient and strong.
00:19No ancients from the front, but we'll get you through the back.
00:23More than three months ago, in the early hours of the morning, the Adas Israel Synagogue
00:27in Melbourne was firebombed.
00:30These walls were both covered with holy books.
00:32It's not the first time the synagogue's been targeted.
00:35In 1995, it was severely damaged in an arson attack.
00:39Mr Kline's grandfather was the president back then.
00:43He was himself a Holocaust survivor, sorry.
00:47And really it was quite unbelievable for him to be standing in the ruins of a synagogue
00:51in Melbourne where he ran away from all that.
00:55In this latest attack, three people broke in in the early hours of the morning of December
01:006th.
01:01The terrorists came through that window over there, smashed the glass over there.
01:06They were disturbed and that's when they lit it and the whole place went up.
01:10There was an apparent level of professionalism.
01:12The attackers wore balaclavas, didn't speak and used brooms to spread the accelerant.
01:19Does that speak to them perhaps having been hired or being experienced in this activity?
01:24I think that's material that will come out during the investigation.
01:27I know that has been something that the New South Wales Police have been looking at with
01:31attacks there as to whether people were paid to do it.
01:35Is that a line of inquiry here in Victoria?
01:37I think they'll keep their minds open to everything.
01:39Assistant Commissioner Chris Gilbert was there the morning it happened and remains in weekly
01:44contact with members of the congregation.
01:47The mood in Riponlee that day was palpable.
01:52It was horrible.
01:53The Australian Federal Police's terrorism unit has been brought in to investigate.
01:59But there's frustration about a lack of arrests.
02:02We had briefings through the process and it was understood that there was enough information
02:07that there may be arrests forthcoming in days and that was just before Christmastime.
02:13They will go through a number of avenues of inquiry and when they are ready for an arrest
02:17they will do so and they'll let the community know.
02:19Has there been a postponement of an arrest in an attempt to get more people involved?
02:23I don't get a sense of that.
02:24I think the investigation, as I said, is complex.
02:28It's an arson investigation.
02:29It's suspected terrorism.
02:31Worshippers will return, but not for another two years.
02:36There are now high hopes that this section, built by Holocaust survivors, will be able
02:41to be saved.
02:43People are travelling from far and wide to show support.
02:46We thought it was important to come here and express our solidarity.
02:51A sentiment that's helped motivate the Adas Israel congregation in its determination to
02:56move forward.