Date:
Author: Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra
Original article: https://theconversation.com/synagogue-firebombing-formally-declared-terrorist-incident-and-investigation-upgraded-245564
Friday’s attack on Melbourne’s Adass Israel synagogue has been formally declared a “likely terrorist incident”. This upgrades the investigation to come under the Joint Counter-terrorism Team, which includes the Australian Federal Police, Victoria Police and ASIO.
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton told a news conference that while there had not been sufficient evidence on Friday to label the firebombing a terrorist incident, the investigation since had made “significant progress” and had reached the threshold.
The declaration of a terrorist attack was advised by a joint management committee meeting of federal and state police, and ASIO, on Monday morning. The upgrade means the tougher, anti-terrorism laws apply, rather than the law covering arson. This anti-terrorism laws include the power of preventative detention.
While Patton refused to give details of the investigation so far, so as not to compromise it, he indicated the police were looking at three suspects.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and other politicians had already labelled the incident a terrorist attack, but to be officially declared one, it had to meet certain criteria.
AFP Deputy Commissioner for National Security Krissy Barrett told the joint news conference the transition of the attack to come under the Victorian Joint Counter-terrorism team was a “crucial turning point in the investigation”.
“Joint counter-terrorism teams include the best terrorism investigators in the country, and a JCTT investigation unlocks more power, more capability, and more intelligence,” she said.
She said since the attack, the AFP, ASIO, and Victoria Police had been in regular contact, and this meant “that now it has been allocated to the Joint Counter-terrorism Team, we are already well-prepared, well-briefed, and well-progressed”.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan told the news conference her government would immediately seek advice on strengthening the state’s laws to protect people going to their place of worship.