Australian police said the fire at the Adas Israel Synagogue in Melbourne is being treated as a possible terrorist attack.
Three suspects are being sought in the early morning fire on Friday, which left a man with minor burns on his hand and caused extensive damage.
Witnesses said they saw masked figures spreading what appeared to be an accelerant in the building, before setting it on fire.
Victoria Police say they have no evidence of further anti-Semitic attacks being planned, but patrols are being increased to reassure the community.
After meeting with the Australian Federal Police and local spy agency ASIO, the state police force said additional “intelligence” had led it to conclude the incident should be treated as a potential terrorist attack.
Commissioner Shane Paton said police had no information prior to the fire to suggest arson was imminent.
He declined to provide any further details about the investigation while it continues.
Paton's announcement came a day after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the incident as “quite clear terrorism” while admitting that police had not yet made their decision. He described his description as a “personal point of view.”
State Premier Jacinta Allan said on Monday that the terrorist designation meant police would now have additional resources for their investigations.
Jewish community leaders said they believed the attack was an escalation of a recent documented increase in anti-Semitism in Australia, and that it had heightened fears of violence.
A small number of worshipers were inside the building at the time of the fire, and described hearing knocks and seeing a window shatter, before liquids were thrown inside and the fire was lit.
“The whole thing started very quickly,” Benjamin Klein, a member of the synagogue’s board of directors, who spoke to witnesses, told The Age.
After officers at the scene encountered angry and frightened worshipers on Friday, Patton said police were focused on ensuring their safety.
“We have… additional police officers deployed in areas where there are large numbers of Jews living and congregating,” he said.
Alan also called on the city to rally behind its Jewish communities.
He added, “We cannot allow this conflict abroad to remain a cover for behavior like this.”
Albanese also announced on Monday the formation of a new federal force to investigate anti-Semitism incidents.
The Prime Minister said a special response was needed to combat the growing threat, pointing to two other recent incidents – the vandalism of a Jewish MP's office and the attack in Sydney in which a car was set on fire and graffiti was sprayed on buildings.
