Police raids in synagogue firebombing probe

Melbourne’s Adass Israel community has expressed gratitude for the apparent progress in the investigation into the Adass Israel Synagogue firebombing, as counter-terrorism police executed raids across the city’s northern suburbs on Friday morning.

Chayim Klein, a member of Adass, told the AJN: “The community is very grateful that it seems the investigation is progressing and progressing at a bit of a pace at the moment. We’re very grateful to the police and the various departments pursuing this and the work they’re putting into it, and we’re looking forward to seeing some arrests.”

“This is not something we’ve experienced before, we can only put our faith and trust in the police Of course we would like to see a quicker and earlier result, but we understand they’ve got to pursue the right avenues,” he said.

Officers from the Victorian Joint Counter-Terrorism Team swooped on at least three properties early Friday morning, as the months-long probe into the potential terrorist attack intensifies.

“Victoria Police and the Australian Federal Police have executed a number of search warrants in Melbourne’s northern suburbs this morning as part of the Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) investigation into an arson attack at a Ripponlea synagogue last year,” a Victoria Police spokesperson said.