The firebombing of a Melbourne synagogue has been labelled as an act of terrorism by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
It comes after two days of mounting criticism and pressure over Mr Albanese’s reluctance to describe the attack as such.
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Speaking in Perth on Sunday, Mr Albanese said, “My personal opinion is yes (it is terrorism), but there is a technical process”.
“There is a technical process that is agreed in the protocols for designating an event as a terrorist act.”
“But if you want my personal view quite clearly, terrorism is something that is aimed at creating fear in the community and the atrocities that occurred at the synagogue in Melbourne clearly were designed to create fear in the community.”
Mr Albanese’s declaration comes after Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said the attack was “very clearly” one of terrorism and the prime minister should “have the guts to come out and say that”.
“This is an act of terrorism, pure and simple, and I think the Prime Minister’s deliberate decision to seek political advantage over the course of last 12 months on this issue and play to a domestic audience of Green voters, I think, has been deplorable and one of the worst things I’ve ever seen in public life,” he said.
On Monday, the Australian Federal Police and Victoria Police will meet to discuss the attack on Ripponlea’s Adass Israel synagogue on Friday.
The meeting will help determine whether there is an official terrorism declaration that would unlock extra policing powers.
Under federal laws, an act of terrorism is one that causes serious damage, is done to advance a cause and is done “with the intention to intimidate the public”.