Anthony Albanese was forced to return to his car after abruptly cutting short a news conference outside a Melbourne synagogue that was firebombed in a suspected terrorist attack.
Albanese visited the Adass Israel synagogue in the heart of the city’s Jewish community on Tuesday and had planned to take questions from the media outside the destroyed temple shortly after 1 p.m.
But the news conference ended abruptly as a crowd gathered around him, and some booed him.
‘You’re late! ‘You’re late!’ a woman shouted at Mr Albanese, apparently criticizing him for playing tennis in Perth just a day after the attack, and for taking 48 hours to label it a terrorist event.
“You let this happen, buddy,” he yelled.
One interlocutor yelled at him to “go live in Gaza,” while another said that “it was a good day to play tennis.”
AFP officers were forced to shout at passers-by, urging them to “stay away” and “careful, careful, back off”, as a worried-looking Albanese hurried towards his waiting motorcade.
Albanese had earlier asked the restless crowd to take “two steps back” as they gathered around him.
Anthony Albanese had planned to take questions from the media outside the synagogue, but the news conference ended abruptly when a crowd gathered around him, with some booing him.
AFP officers were forced to shout at passersby, urging them to “stay away” and “careful, careful, back,” as their convoy attempted to leave.
A woman in a green shirt interrupted Mr. Albanese.
He spoke briefly and told those gathered that those responsible for the “evil act” would be brought to justice.
“This arson attack is an act of terrorism,” said Mr Albanese.
“It was fueled by anti-Semitism and fueled by hatred. We are a country that needs to unite and unite.
‘One of the things we talked about internally with community leaders was the fact that people have come to Australia because we are a peaceful country.
‘We are a country that respects people of different faiths and we are enriched by our diversity, and I want to thank the rabbi and all the community leaders for the warm welcome they have extended to me here today.
He added: “Australia is not a country that will tolerate such an act.”
Liberal leader Peter Dutton visited the crime scene on Monday.
Over the weekend, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the Albanese government for fomenting a rise in anti-Semitism in Australia.
Meanwhile, the Australian Jewish Association said antisemitism had “increased” under the Albanese government.
“Labour has stood by while horrific anti-Semitic protests have taken over our streets, week after week,” Mr Gregory said.
‘They have stood by while ‘Free Palestine’ extremists attacked synagogues and Jewish schools. Just this week there was an anti-Semitic protest outside the Great Synagogue in Sydney.
‘Labour has stood by while extremist Islamic preachers preached toxic antisemitism. They have stood by while Jews were attacked in the streets and our universities were taken over by anti-Jewish radicals, setting up camps.’
Israel’s war in Gaza was sparked by the Hamas terrorist group’s attack on October 7, 2023, which killed 1,200 people and took 250 hostages, according to Israel’s count.
The official death toll in Gaza has surpassed 44,000, according to the local Health Ministry, and tens of thousands more are missing or believed to be buried under rubble.
Damage to the synagogue is estimated to be in the millions and the building was almost completely destroyed.
Photographers were given access to the building on Monday morning, with images showing the devastation burned inside.
Total Massacre: Inside Melbourne’s Adass Israel Synagogue
Images from inside Melbourne’s Adass Israel synagogue emerged on Monday
Australian Federal Police Deputy Commissioner Krissy Barrett said the fire appeared to be “politically motivated”.
“We will not tolerate crimes that undermine Australia’s security or our way of life,” he said.
The Australian Federal Police has created a special task force to investigate incidents of antisemitism.
‘I want to assure the Jewish community that the AFP will continue to provide capacity and resources to state and territory police. However, from today the AFP will take on a greater role,” said AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw.
‘The AFP will not tolerate crimes that undermine Australia’s security or our way of life.
‘The domestic terrorism threat level remains Probable. When I raised the threat level earlier this year, I noted that there was a more than 50 percent chance of a terrorist attack in the next 12 months.
“Sadly, this egregious incident appears to embody the unpleasant dynamic that ASIO has been warning about.”