The Melbourne Snap⚡- Monday 7 July
Another synagogue firebombed, homegrown NBA stars behind $10m mega-complex, toll costs for new West Gate tunnel, beloved TV chef dies and 'urban oasis' on Chapel Street.
G’day and welcome back to The Melbourne Snap. Before I begin, if you’re a regular reader of this newsletter would you be able to answer this short survey? The responses so far have been really helpful. There are seven questions, and four of them are multiple-choice. Nice and easy. Thanks to those who’ve already taken part.
Here’s Monday’s edition.
🔥 Police are investigating two antisemitic incidents, and a possible third, across Melbourne over the weekend.
➡️ These include a synagogue firebombing in East Melbourne, a protest at Israeli restaurant Miznon in the CBD, and a vandalism attack in Greensborough. ASIO and AFP have joined the probe as leaders condemn the violence. - ABC News
➡️ Police arrested Angelo Loras, 34, from the Sydney suburb of Toongabbie on Saturday evening in connection with Friday’s synagogue arson attack. - Victoria Police
➡️ Detectives are investigating a Saturday arson attack in Greensborough where five masked offenders torched three cars and spray-painted slogans at a Para Road business. The three incidents are not linked. - Victoria Police
➡️ Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the synagogue arson and restaurant attack, urging Australia to take firm action to protect its Jewish community. - Prime Minister of Israel (X)
➡️Melbourne Palestine advocates disavowed the synagogue attacker, saying “you are not part of our movement,” but criticised calls to condemn the fire while holy sites in Gaza face ongoing attacks. - The Age (Instagram)
➡️ The latest attack comes after Ripponlea Synagogue was torched in December.
“To our Jewish community: I stand with you in the fight against hate and fear, and the Victorian people stand with you, too.” - Premier Jacinta Allen in a statement
🌦️ Monday weather
✊🏾 Victoria will enshrine the First Peoples’ Assembly as a permanent statutory body with new powers to advise ministers, oversee Aboriginal programs and make board appointments under landmark treaty legislation. - Vic Gov
➡️ The Premier and First Peoples’ Assembly made a joint statement on Friday.
⚫ Six people died on Victorian roads over the weekend, including three family members killed in a crash near Bolinda, just north of Melbourne. The state’s road death toll is at 156 for the year, 15 higher than this time last year. - Victoria Police
🐱 Councils are tightening cat curfews as the RSPCA’s “Rethink Roaming” campaign warns of dangers to roaming pets and their impact on wildlife. - Eliza Rugg, 9 News
➡️ The animal welfare charity has an online search tool so you can see the risks to cats in your area. - Rethink Roaming
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