Police charged a third suspect on Friday in connection with an arson attack on a Melbourne synagogue, an incident the Australian Prime Minister has accused Iran’s Revolutionary Guard of directing. The 20-year-old man was among three alleged masked offenders who broke into the Adass Israel Synagogue on Dec. 6, 2024, dousing its interior with flammable liquid and setting it alight. The fire caused extensive damage to the synagogue and resulted in minor injuries to a worshipper. This latest charge comes as the state apparatus continues to expand its reach in response to alleged foreign interference.
The State's Hand
The Victorian Joint Counter Terrorism Team, a combined force of federal and state police alongside a national spy agency, brought charges against the unnamed man, who was already in custody for unrelated offenses. This coordinated state action follows Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's accusation last year that Iran’s Revolutionary Guard orchestrated both the synagogue fire and an earlier arson attack two months prior at a Sydney kosher eatery, Lewis’ Continental Kitchen. The state's response has included the expulsion of Iran’s ambassador to Australia and three other Iranian diplomats, despite Tehran's denial of Australia’s allegations.
Mike Burgess, director-general of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), the nation’s main domestic spy agency, stated that the Revolutionary Guard employed a "complex web of proxies to hide its involvement" in these alleged antisemitic attacks. This assertion by a key state security official underscores the justification for increased surveillance and intervention by the state, both domestically and internationally. Australian Federal Police Assistant Commissioner Peter Crozier confirmed that investigators are actively collaborating with international partners in the continuing investigation, further illustrating the global projection of state power.
Proxies and Pawns
A key line of inquiry for investigators, according to Assistant Commissioner Crozier, is whether the three alleged arsonists were aware of who ordered the attack. Crozier stated, "They may not actually be aware of the people who are directing or the principals of these investigations. That remains a key line of inquiry for us." This suggests a hierarchy of power where individuals, often young, are allegedly utilized as instruments in larger geopolitical conflicts, potentially without full knowledge of the forces they serve. The charged man joins co-accused Giovanni Laulu, 21, arrested in July last year, and Younes Ali Younes, 20, arrested a month later, all facing charges related to the incident.
The human cost of these alleged proxy operations includes the extensive damage to the synagogue and the minor injuries sustained by a worshipper. These incidents occur within a broader context of violence, including the killing of 15 people when two gunmen opened fire on a Sydney Hanukkah celebration in December. Such events are frequently leveraged to justify the expansion of state security measures and the consolidation of power.
Managing Contradictions
In response to a rise in antisemitism across the country, the Australian government has established a public inquiry. This state-led initiative functions as a mechanism to manage social contradictions and public concern, offering a reformist solution within the existing framework. Victoria Police Acting Assistant Commissioner Paul O’Halloran stated that the charges are a "strong testament" to people's right to feel safe and be safe in their community and particularly at their place of worship. O’Halloran added, "Our heart goes out to them. Again, this brings back this terrible incident," a statement that frames the state's actions as protective while its security and intelligence agencies expand their operations and international entanglements. The inquiry, while addressing symptoms, does not challenge the underlying dynamics of international rivalries or the expansion of state power that these incidents are used to legitimize.