Man charged over synagogue firebombing

A 34-year-old man has been charged over the firebombing of a synagogue that's sent shock waves through Australia's Jewish community.

Twenty congregants were forced to flee the synagogue in East Melbourne on Friday night after a bearded man doused the building's front door with flammable liquid before setting it alight.

He fled on foot, while firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze, which was contained to the front entrance.

A NSW man was arrested in Melbourne's CBD on Saturday about 8.15pm and charged with multiple offences, including reckless conduct endangering life, criminal damage by fire and possession of a controlled weapon.

The 34-year-old will appear before the bail and remand court on Sunday.

Detectives will investigate the accused man's intent and ideology to determine if the incident was an act of terrorism.

Victoria Police said it was lucky no one was injured in another alleged act of anti-Semitism on the same night when protesters allegedly smashed a window, flipped tables and threw chairs outside Israeli restaurant Miznon in Melbourne's CBD.

The group of protesters had splintered from a larger demonstration in the city before making their way to the restaurant in Hardware Lane, where they chanted "death to the IDF", referring to the Israel Defence Force.

A 28-year-old protester was arrested for hindering police, as detectives sift through CCTV as part of investigations.

Hours later, offenders spray-painted three cars and a wall outside a Greensborough business in Melbourne's northeast before setting fire to the vehicles, destroying one and damaging two.

Police said there were "inferences of anti-Semitism" and the business had been "subjected to pro-Palestinian activity" in the past 12 months.

Detectives are investigating if there are any links between the three incidents and have flagged a review of their response to a pro-Palestine demonstration to be held in Melbourne on Sunday.

None of the incidents have been declared terrorism-related but the force is increasing patrols around the synagogue and in the city's southeast.

The attack on the 150-year-old temple was the 10th firebombing the Australian Jewish community has experienced in the past 12 months, Executive Council of Australian Jewry president Daniel Aghion said.

"If you think about terrorism as creating terror or fear, then yes, it is a form of terrorism," he said.

"This is a pattern of behaviour designed to create fear amongst the Jewish community, which it will not do."

Anti-Defamation Commission's Dvir Abramovich said diners were terrorised and Melbourne "stopped being a safe place for Jews" for one night.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the synagogue arson as a "cowardly" act of violence and anti-Semitism and said the attacks on the restaurant and business were unacceptable.

The federal government has offered federal police and security and intelligence agency support to investigators.

"Those responsible for these shocking acts must face the full force of the law," he said.

The attacks come seven months after a blaze destroyed two buildings at the Adass Israel Synagogue in the city's south and forced worshippers inside to flee.

No charges have been laid, although counterterrorism police have raided multiple properties as part of that investigation.

Israel's foreign minister condemned Friday's attacks and demanded Australian do more to combat anti-Semitism.

"Israel stands firmly with the Jewish community in Australia," Gideon Sa'ar posted on social platform X.

"There have been too many anti-Semitic attacks in Australia."