A man has been charged with carrying out a hate crime after crashing his truck into the gates of a synagogue in Brisbane, Australia, on Friday night, according to an ABC News report.
The incident took place on Margaret Street in the central business district of Brisbane, where security cameras recorded the 32-year-old suspect fleeing the scene shortly after ramming his truck into the gates.
CCTV footage captured the moment the truck arrived at the synagogue, reversed into the gates, dented one gate, and knocked the other off its hinges. A person was seen moving out of the way as the gate fell.
No injuries were reported during the incident. Police were called shortly afterward and began investigating the scene.
Police investigation
Acting Superintendent Michael Hogan stated that the police responded quickly, tracked the vehicle, located the suspect, and made a timely arrest, according to the ABC report.
Superintendent Hogan also clarified that the incident is not being treated as a potential terrorist act, as police have concluded the suspect did intend to damage the gates, but that there is no indication he intended to enter the synagogue.
"This is a criminal investigation. Police are considering the man's mental health and intoxication as contributing factors," Superintendent Hogan said.
Leaders react to the hate crime
Libby Burke, the Vice President of the Queensland Jewish Board of Deputies, expressed that the community feels "deeply distressed" by the targeting of their synagogue. "This attack is not only an attack on my community; it is an attack on all of us," she stated.
She also expressed the community's "extraordinary gratitude" to the Queensland Police Service for their "prompt action" and support.
Opposition leader Steven Miles said he was "deeply troubled" to hear of the incident.
"Queensland's Jewish community should always feel safe and respected, especially in a place of worship," he said.
"There is no place for hate or intimidation in Queensland."
Dr. Dvir Abramovich, Chair of the Anti-Defamation Commission, commented on the incident, stating, “We are told this is not being treated as terrorism. But when a synagogue is deliberately attacked, the label matters less than the impact. The fear is real. The shock is real. The message is unmistakable.”
“Since October 7, antisemitism in this country has not whispered, it has roared. It has leapt from slogans to smashed windows, from online bile to physical assaults on Jewish spaces and individuals as we saw at Bondi. And now, a car used like a battering ram against a synagogue in the heart of Brisbane.”