Alleged threat to ‘blow up’ Beth Weizmann
A Brisbane man has been charged after a threat was allegedly made to "blow up" Melbourne's Beth Weizmann Jewish Community Centre.
Zionism Victoria president Elyse Schachna has said Jewish Victorians “want to be left in peace” after a Brisbane man was charged today with threatening to “blow up” the Beth Weizmann Jewish Community Centre.
The man, 52, has been charged after he was detained by Queensland’s Counter-Terrorism Investigation Group on Saturday. Police said he had made a “verbal” threat against Beth Weizmann that day.
The Australian reported that, according to sources, the man had threatened on social media that he would to “blow up” the centre, home to 17 Jewish communal organisations. The post has since been deleted.
The man has been charged with using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence.
Detectives said they do not believe there are any links between the alleged threat and Friday’s firebombing of the Adass Israel shule.
The man, whose place of residence has been given as Holland Park, a Brisbane suburb, was arrested at Yarraman State Forest near Brisbane. He is due to appear before Nanango Magistrates Court on January 16.
In January this year, Beth Weizmann’s entrance was daubed with the word “genocide” and its Wall of Hope, a tribute to the October 7 hostages, was spray-painted with the words “Free Palestine”.
Queensland Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski was reported describing the latest threat against Beth Weizmann as an “extremely serious offence”.
“The Queensland Police Service is absolutely committed to making sure that every Queenslander and people from minority groups feels safe,” said Gollschewski. “They have that right, and we are committed to supporting them. We have an excellent relationship with the Jewish community here in Queensland.”
Schachna told the Jewish community today, “We would also express the deepest gratitude to CSG for their remarkable efforts to keep us all safe. Beth Weizmann Jewish Community Centre is a hub of Jewish life. We wish to reassure all tenants and visitors that, with CSG and Beth Weizmann management, we are working to ensure the building is safe for anyone who comes here.
“Our Jewish community is reeling from these unrelenting threats to our security and safety. We need all Australians to say ‘enough in enough’. We want to be left in peace to live our lives. We want an Australia where we are all safe.”
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