Man Faces Hate Crime Charges After Alleged Synagogue Gate Ramming in Brisbane
Queensland police have formally charged a 32-year-old Sunnybank man with multiple offenses following a disturbing incident where a vehicle was used to ram the gates of a synagogue in Brisbane's central business district. The man is expected to appear before the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Saturday, facing serious charges that include wilful damage, serious vilification or hate crime, dangerous operation of a vehicle, and drug possession offenses.
Targeted Attack on Jewish Place of Worship
According to police reports, the incident occurred shortly after 7pm on Friday when the suspect allegedly drove a Toyota Hilux utility vehicle into the gates of the synagogue located on Margaret Street. The driver fled the scene immediately after the collision but was taken into custody a short time later. Fortunately, no injuries were reported during the attack, though CCTV footage released by authorities shows a person inside the synagogue grounds jumping backward as the vehicle struck the gates.
Acting Superintendent Michael Hogan of Queensland Police confirmed that while the attack was specifically targeted at the Jewish synagogue, it is not being treated as a terrorist incident. "Specialist counter-terrorism officers have been involved in the investigation from the very start, and I can confirm this is not considered a terrorist incident," Hogan stated. He emphasized that police are considering the man's mental health and intoxication as contributing factors to the alleged attack.
Community Response and Political Reactions
The Queensland Jewish community has expressed deep distress over the incident. Libby Burke, vice president of the Queensland Jewish Board of Deputies, described the synagogue as "a sacred place, a place of prayer, reflection, and community" and emphasized that "all Jews in Queensland should be able to attend synagogue and live our lives free from fear." Burke further stated that "this attack is not only an attack on my community, it is an attack on all of us."
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has described the alleged attack as concerning and acknowledged that Jewish Australians would be feeling deeply distressed by the incident. "I have spoken to Jewish leaders, as well as police, and I want to assure Queenslanders we are taking this seriously," Crisafulli wrote on social media. He referenced proposed legislation currently before parliament, stating "this is another signal as to why we have put strong laws before parliament to protect all people where they worship."
Legislative Context and Investigation Status
The proposed legislation mentioned by Premier Crisafulli has faced some controversy, with multiple stakeholders reporting they were not consulted before the bill was drafted. The Federation of Islamic Councils, the Islamic Council of Queensland, and the Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland all informed the state's parliamentary committee for justice, integrity and community safety that they had been bypassed in the consultation process. Under these proposed laws, Queensland's attorney general would gain the power to outlaw specific phrases, with public utterance punishable by up to two years in prison.
Police have confirmed that their investigation into Friday evening's incident remains ongoing. While the attack was clearly targeted at the Jewish place of worship, authorities believe the attacker did not intend to enter the synagogue itself. The combination of hate crime charges with other offenses reflects the serious nature of the alleged actions and their impact on the community.
