Australian intelligence concluded the Iranian government directed arson attacks on the Lewis Continental Kitchen in Sydney in October and the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne in December. Authorities reported a steep rise in antisemitic incidents in Sydney and Melbourne since the Israel-Hamas war began in 2023 and said foreign actors may be paying local criminals to carry out attacks. Police have arrested suspects in both investigations. Australia told Iran's ambassador he will be expelled, withdrew diplomats from Iran to a third country, closed its embassy, and urged Australians in Iran to strongly consider leaving.
"ASIO has now gathered enough credible intelligence to reach a deeply disturbing conclusion," Albanese told reporters. "The Iranian government directed at least two of these attacks. Iran has sought to disguise its involvement but ASIO assesses it was behind the attacks. "These were extraordinary and dangerous acts of aggression orchestrated by a foreign nation on Australian soil," he said. "They were attempts to undermine social cohesion and sow discord in our community. It is totally unacceptable."
"The Australian Security Intelligence Organization concluded the Iranian government had directed arson attacks on the Lewis Continental Kitchen, a kosher food company, in Sydney in October last year and on the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne in December last year, Albanese said. Iran's government had no immediate reaction. Australian intelligence says Iran was behind arson attacks There has been a steep rise in antisemitic incidents in Sydney and Melbourne since the Israel-Hamas war began in 2023."
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