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An attack on a Melbourne synagogue last Friday has officially been declared a likely act of terror, after a meeting between the Australian Federal Police [[AFP]] and Victoria Police.
The arson caused two out of the synagogue's three buildings in Melbourne's south-east to burn down.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says authorities will do everything in their power to bring the arsonists to justice.
"Our world class agencies will provide all the support necessary to find the perpetrators and ensure they face the full force of the law."
The synagogue attack is the latest in a string of anti-Semitic incidents prompting Anthony Albanese to announce the establishment of a specialist taskforce.
"Today I can also announce that we have established AFP Special Operation Avalite for anti-Semitism. This is in response to the attack last Friday morning that is now the third arson attack after the attack on Josh Burns' electorate office and the Sydney Woollahra car incident. This will be a Commonwealth-led taskforce that will work with state and territory police forces."
A-F-P Commissioner Reece Kershaw has provided further insight into how this new taskforce is expected to operate.
"Special Operation Avalite will be an agile and experienced squad of counter-terrorism investigators who will focus on threats, violence, and hatred towards the Australian Jewish Community and parliamentarians. In essence, they will be a flying squad to deploy nationally to incidents. The Commonwealth offences Special Operation Avalite will investigate will include urging violence against members or groups, advocating terrorism, advocating genocide, using a carriage service to make a threat, and using a carriage service to menace or harass."
The arson attack on the Melbourne synagogue comes after warnings by Australian Security Intelligence Organisation chief Mike Burgess of a potential terrorist incident.
Mr Burgess had warned the escalating tensions regarding the conflict in Gaza could lead to violence.
"Anti-authority beliefs continue to grow, grievances are spreading, provocative, inflammatory language are being normalised. And let me close by repeating what I said after the seventh of October Hamas terrorist attack. Inflamed language leads to inflamed tension and can lead to violence so we all need to watch our words."
The A-S-I-O boss has confirmed his organisation is helping the counter-terrorism unit and the A-F-P in their operations but is also conducting a separate investigation.
"As a member of the joint counter-terrorism team, ASIO will be assisting police with their investigation and assist the Australian Federal Police with their special operation. We're also conducting our own inquiries and investigation to check, to ensure that there is no ongoing threat or individuals with similar capabilities to the attack we've just seen in Melbourne. At this stage, we have no intelligence to suggest that is the case."
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus says Australia is currently going through the most significant wave of anti-Semitism he's seen.
But he says the government is determined to squash out all forms of discrimination.
"We've experienced in the last year the highest level of anti-Semitism that I've experienced in my lifetime. That's a common reaction from members of the Australian Jewish Community. It's been growing over the course of the year. But our government has been resolute in standing with the community and we will continue to be resolute in standing with the community to do everything that needs to be done. To make sure that every member of the Australian community, including Jews in Australia, feel safe."
Opposition leader Peter Dutton has visited the scene of Friday's crime.
He says he plans to introduce a new taskforce on anti-Semitism if the Coalition wins the next election.
"It'll take whatever resource is required and we'll take that advice from the AFP Commissioner. So, it'll depend on how many of the matters have been resolved to the satisfaction of the AFP. And, but I'll make it very clear, whatever the resource requirements and whatever the costs, they will be met. And it'll be a very substantial task force that will provide reassurance to all Australians, that we don't discriminate against people on the basis of race or religion."
Meanwhile, members of the Jewish community have expressed concern for their safety.
Jewish community member Sarah Bendetsky says that feeling of insecurity is escalating.
"People feel that no one cares about their lives. Even though we talk about a multicultural society, where there is a place for everyone, where all the holy places are respected and protected, in fact we see that this is not the case. In fact, anyone can wake up and find out that, as in our case, a synagogue has burned down, which three or four generations attended, in which there were Torah scrolls. Terrible disrespect and a specially carried out action, frightening, so that people do not feel safe."
