The arson attack on a synagogue in Melbourne, Australia, on Friday is likely a terrorist crime and is now being investigated as such, reports The Guardian.
Shane Patton, head of the state police in Victoria, calls the incident a "horrible attack".
In practice, it's about an attack on the Jewish people, he said at a press conference on Monday.
Shortly afterwards, the country's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that the federal police in Australia are setting up a special unit to combat anti-Semitism following Friday's arson attack.
About 60 firefighters participated in the extinguishing work. After about half an hour, the fire was under control, but the synagogue suffered significant damage.
The police are searching for several masked individuals who were seen throwing flammable liquid at the building just before the fire started.
