The Australian Federal Police will attempt to use “public interest immunity” to keep information relating to an alleged arson attack on a Melbourne synagogue from being revealed, a court has heard.
The alleged firebombing of the Adass Israel Synagogue in Ripponlea in December 2024 was used by federal and state governments to justify new “hate speech” laws, was labelled an “act of terrorism” at the time by police, and resulted in Prime Minister Anthony Albanese committing more than $30 million for restoration and security.
Then in August last year ASIO boss Mike Burgess said the spy agency had “credible information” the alleged attack was conducted by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) acting through a “layer cake of cut-outs”, including overseas organised crime, and was aimed at “messing with social cohesion”.
Two men charged with multiple offences over the fire, including arson and reckless conduct endangering life, Giovanni Laulu, 21, and Younes Ali Younes, 20, faced Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday, Newswire reported.
Neither Laulu, who is out on bail, nor Ali Younes, who appeared in court by videolink from custody, have entered a plea, and an lawyer for the AFP told the hearing disclosure of relevant information to the accused pair’s legal teams should be complete by the end of May.
The lawyer said 2,500 pages of information had already been disclosed with another 1,100 under review, but also told the court the AFP would be seeking to make a “number” of public interest immunity claims.
The court heard extra time may be needed ahead of a committal hearing expected in August if claims are made and Laulu and Ali Younes’ lawyers decide to challenge them.
If approved by a court, public interest immunity claims prevent the public disclosure of information, including relevant and admissible evidence, which is deemed to be prejudicial or injurious to the public interest.
These claims can result in defendants being unable to view and/or use admissible evidence, and are usually decided in closed court and covered by suppression orders.
Police allege Laulu, Ali Younes and a third unidentified person broke into the synagogue in the early hours, and set the building alight using jerry cans full of fuel.
The synagogue fire caused $20 million worth of damage and was referenced in calls by the Jewish community for tougher laws on anti-Semitism, which were subsequently passed in Victoria, NSW and federally.
Victorian Premier said while announcing her state’s laws that they were formulated after she met with “literally hundreds of members and leaders of the Jewish community” after the alleged attack, and called the legislation a renewed “promise to Jews”.
After ASIO’s Iran assessment Sky News Australia host Sharri Markson reported that confidential sources had confirmed Israeli intelligence agency Mossad assisted with the investigation, which also blamed Iran for the firebombing of kosher restaurant Lewis’s Continental Kitchen in Bondi, Sydney, in October 2024.
Two months later Mossad claimed to have identified a senior Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corp leader responsible for both Australian attacks, although it refused to confirm whether it had provided information to ASIO prior to Mr Burgess’s announcement.
But during the same week NSW Police said in a statement to parliament there was no evidence of the involvement of Iran or any other foreign agents in the 13 most serious attacks on the Jewish community in NSW since October 7, 2023, confirming they were all criminal con jobs.
Mossad also immediately blamed the Bondi massacre on Iran, but Australian police have alleged the father-and-son Islamic terrorists were inspired by ISIS.
Header image: Left, CCTV of the alleged arsonists (Victoria Police). Right, the synagogue on fire.
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