‘Breakthrough’ hailed in Melbourne synagogue arson investigation as man charged over ‘crime car’

<p>Victoria police charge 20-year-old with stealing ‘a communal crime car’ used in Adass Israel attack and blocking access to apps on his phone</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2025/jul/17/australia-news-live-albanese-china-chengdu-cochlear-backpacker-carolina-wilga-abs-employment-data-victoria-childcare-nsw-labor-coalition-ntwnfb">Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates</a></p></li><li><p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p></li></ul><p>The investigation into an arson attack on the Adass Israel synagogue has reached a “critical point”, Victoria’s acting premier says, after a man was charged with <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/may/15/adass-israel-synagogue-melbourne-arson-attack-footage-released-ntwnfb">stealing “a communal crime car”</a> used in the attack and blocking police from accessing apps on his phone.</p><p>The attack on the ultra-Orthodox <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/dec/06/police-suspect-fire-that-engulfed-melbourne-synagogue-was-deliberately-lit">Adass Israel synagogue</a> in December is still being investigated as a politically motivated attack by the Victorian joint counter-terrorism team, which includes representatives from the federal police and the domestic spy agency, Asio.</p><p><strong><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=copyembed">Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email</a></strong></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jul/17/victoria-adass-israel-synagogue-arson-attack-car-theft-charge-ntwnfb">Continue reading...</a>