Victoria Police has named a person of interest in relation to a suspected arson attack on a car bearing a Hanukkah symbol on Thursday. No-one was inside the vehicle at the time, but the home’s occupants had to be evacuated as a precaution.Officers are searching for John Argento, 47, following early investigations that suggested he may be able to assist.
In a statement, Victoria Police said Argento, who lives a “transient lifestyle”, has been known to police and had an outstanding arrest warrant relating to deception-related offending.
Victoria Police has released a photo of John Argento. Source: Supplied / Victoria Police
Argento was described as 185cm tall, with a thin build, blue eyes and grey hair. Victoria Police said detectives were treating the arson as a targeted attack, but there’s no indication that Argento poses a specific risk to the Jewish community. Assistant commissioner Chris Gilbert from Southern Metro Region said: “We understand the devastating impact this type of offence has on our Jewish community, and we are continuing to prioritise this investigation. We won’t fully understand the motives of this arsonist until we get them into custody.”
“At this stage, we do not believe there is a broader threat to the Jewish community. We want to thank people in the area for their assistance in this investigation so far,” he said.
Jewish leader condemns attack
The attack was designed to frighten Jews for being visibly Jewish, Zionist Federation of Australia president Jeremy Leibler said.
President of the Zionist Federation of Australia, Jeremy Leibler, has called for a royal commission following the latest suspected antisemitic attack in Melbourne. Source: AAP / James Ross
“After Bondi, and with the number of recent threats and investigations around the country, Australia has to treat antisemitism as a public safety issue, not a niche community concern,” Leibler said.A federal royal commission or an equivalent national inquiry with real powers into the Bondi attack and wider antisemitism crisis is the only way the nation can get the truth, accountability and lasting reform, he said.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan was briefed on the firebombing of a car that had been used to spread Hanukkah and holiday cheer, and which the “community rightly fear is an antisemitic incident”.
“This is not what any family, street or community deserves to wake up to on Christmas Day in Australia,” Allan said on social media.”We have a duty to this community: to ensure their families are safe and feel safe right now, and to work long-term in a serious effort to drive anti-Semitism and hate out of our state.”The incident comes after 15 people were killed when two alleged gunmen opened fire on Hanukkah celebrations at Bondi Beach on 14 December.
SBS News does not suggest there is any link between the two incidents.
‘Beyond comprehension’: PM denounces attack
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the apparent firebombing attack was “beyond comprehension”.
“What sort of evil ideology and thoughts at a time like this would motivate someone? We know that there is evil presence,” he said on Thursday.
But Albanese has resisted calling a federal royal commission into the Bondi attack, instead backing a NSW inquiry and prioritising a quicker but more limited review of intelligence and law enforcement agencies.Hate speech reforms and an overhaul of ministerial powers to cancel or reject visas for sowing division or potentially inciting violence are also on the agenda.The Victorian government has promised to follow NSW’s footsteps to crack down on hate crimes and grant police the power to veto protests after designated terror attacks.
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