An Australian man who allegedly vandalized a South Yarra synagogue six times this year, sometimes while wearing the mask of a character from the horror movie Scream, was arrested and charged by the Melbourne Crime Investigation Unit on Monday, the Victoria Police announced.
The 37-year-old South Yarra man was arrested in relation to criminal damage at the Melbourne Hebrew Congregation synagogue on March 11, June 21, June 22, July 22, July 30, and August 19.
Riding a motorized scooter and wearing face coverings that sometimes included a Ghostface Killer mask, the vandal graffitied the synagogue with offensive phrases, police said in a previous August 4 statement.
The serial vandal was charged with six counts each for criminal damage and offensive graffiti, five counts each for use of an unregistered motor vehicle and unlicensed driving, and one count of failing to stop at police direction. He was released on bail and is set to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on November 21.
Australia has seen rising incidents of antisemitic incidents since the October 7 massacre, with synagogues repeatedly being targeted with vandalism and arson.
The East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation was the target of an arson attack on its entrance on July 8. The Jewish Community Council of Victoria said in a statement that four arrests were made in relation to the incident, including Angelo Loras. Loras was charged with endangering life and serious injury, arson, and possession of a controlled weapon.
2024 Adass Israel synagogue arson attack
On Thursday, a second man was charged for his alleged involvement in the 2024 Melbourne Adass Israel synagogue arson attack. The 20-year-old is alleged to be one of three men who deliberately set fire to the Ripponlea synagogue in December, wounding two people and causing extensive structural damage to the historic house of worship. A Werribee man was also arrested for the arson on July 30, and another man was arrested on July 16 for providing transportation to the attack.
Executive Council of Australian Jewry president Daniel Aghion said that the Thursday arrest was “welcome news for our community, especially after another spate of serious antisemitic incidents in Melbourne in July.”