The rabbi of the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation synagogue and his community potentially saved lives by following security protocols during the firebombing attack on Friday, Justin Kagan, the head of the Jewish Community Security Group Victoria, told The Jerusalem Post.
A 34-year-old man named Angelo Loras was arrested and charged after allegedly setting fire to the front door of the centuries-old historic synagogue. At the time of the arson attack, 20 people were inside the synagogue. Still, they did not suffer injuries as firefighters attended the scene within minutes and extinguished the blaze.
“The rabbi and his community should be commended for their commendable vigilance and composure,” Kagan told the Post. “When the assailant attempted to gain entry, they ensured the doors remained secured, preventing access and potentially saving lives.”
He explained that the CSG provides comprehensive security training and guidance to synagogues throughout Melbourne, empowering members to take control of their own security. Such measures can include locking the front door during a Shabbat meal, not opening a door to a suspicious person, and, of course, calling the police, followed by the CSG.
“Over the years, the CSG has collaborated closely with the East Melbourne synagogue, as well as many others across Victoria, investing substantial time and money into strengthening physical security infrastructure. These proactive efforts played a critical role in minimizing the damage and reducing the risk to life during the recent incident.”
“We commend East Melbourne for implementing these protocols effectively,” he added.
The JEAP App assisted in the arrest of the perpetrator
Additionally, Kagan said that the CSG’s emergency app initiative ultimately led to the successful arrest of the perpetrator.
“JEAP, the Jewish Emergency App developed by CSG Victoria, allows us to share critical information and images with the community in real-time. On Saturday evening, we released an image of the suspect through JEAP. Within just an hour, a community member who saw the alert recognized the individual in the city and immediately contacted the police, leading to a swift arrest.”
Kagan called it a “powerful example of how an informed and engaged community can play a vital role in ensuring everyone’s safety.”
While it would be ideal to have professional security guards at every synagogue, such personnel are expensive, and many synagogues are limited due to financial constraints, Kagan explained.
He thanked the government for its support since October 7. Still, he called for additional state and federal funding, which “is essential to ensure all synagogues can maintain consistent security coverage,” especially given that many synagogues cannot front the security costs alone.
He also called on the government and law enforcement to take “decisive action” following Friday night’s events.
“It is time to draw a clear line: This behavior is unacceptable and must be met with firm consequences,” Kagan said. “Those responsible must be held accountable to prevent further escalation.”
“After nearly 20 months of weekly protests in Melbourne, where violent anti-Israel and antisemitic rhetoric has gone largely unchecked, such an outcome was tragically foreseeable.”
Kagan added that this “was not merely an attack on a Jewish or Israeli establishment; it was an attack on Australians and Victorians” and the places they frequently gather.
This was in reference to a separate incident on Friday during which some 20 protesters were recorded yelling, “Death to the IDF” at Israeli chef Eyal Shani’s Miznon restaurant.
“Such acts of violence threaten the safety and cohesion of our entire society and must not be allowed to continue unchecked,” Kagan said.