Australian authorities said the Arson attack on the Adass Israel Temple in Melbourne was linked to Iran, although the direct participants were likely unaware that they were being controlled from the outside.
On December 6, 2024, three men wearing hooded hats used axes and gas canisters to set fire a parish, after driving a stolen blue Volkswagen Golf to the scene. Police said the $12 million building was still inside at the time of the fire, but no one was injured.
Security cameras recorded the entire incident, and two suspects, Younes Ali Younes (20 years old) and Giovanni Laulu (21 years old), were charged in connection.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the Australian intelligence agency had pointed out Iran was behind this and another case in Sydney. The Australian government has deported the Iranian ambassador, and Australian diplomats in Tehran have been asked to leave.
Albanese told the parliament that the investigation into domestic and foreign cash flows, through many intermediaries, showed traces to the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Australian intelligence director Mike Burgess explained that a series of interfaces were used to conceal Irans involvement. Home Secretary Tony Burke stressed that participants in Australia do not necessarily know who is really in charge.
Australian Federal Police also confirmed that the incident was motivated by politics and involved criminals abroad. Krissy Barrett, a former deputy police chief, said the anti-terrorist force executed seven search warrants and arrested a suspect, and investigated a major criminal who was deported to Iraq in 2023.
Meanwhile, Iran's Foreign Ministry denied the allegations and said it "completely denied" its role in the incident. Israel welcomed Australia's tough stance. TheFive Eyes intelligence network, which includes Australia, the UK, the US, Canada and New Zealand, is coordinating the investigation.
