A man has been charged with a hate crime after deliberately ramming his pickup truck into the gates of a synagogue in Brisbane, Australia, in an incident that narrowly missed a bystander. The attack, which occurred on Friday night, has heightened concerns over rising antisemitism in the country.
Security footage released by police shows the driver stopping outside the synagogue, reversing his Toyota Hilux, and striking the building’s gates before fleeing the scene. Queensland Police Acting Superintendent Michael Hogan confirmed the suspect, a 34-year-old man, was apprehended within 90 minutes. Authorities are investigating whether mental health issues or intoxication influenced the act. The falling gates passed close to a pedestrian, who was unharmed.
Libby Burke, Vice President of the Queensland Jewish Board of Deputies, condemned the violence, stating, “This attack is not only an attack on my community, it is an attack on all of us.” Queensland Premier David Crisafulli expressed solidarity with the Jewish community on Saturday, linking the incident to proposed legislation aimed at protecting places of worship: “This is another signal as to why we have put strong laws before parliament to protect all people where they worship.”
The attack is the latest in a series of antisemitic incidents across Australia since the outbreak of conflict between Hamas and Israel in October 2023. In December 2025, a terrorist attack at Bondi Beach during a Hanukkah celebration killed 15 people. The following July, a separate attempt was made to set fire to a synagogue in Melbourne. These events have drawn international attention, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently accusing Australian authorities of “appeasement” of Islamic radicalism and of fueling antisemitism through their stance on Palestine.
Queensland police continue their investigation into the Brisbane incident as the suspect faces charges including wilful damage and committing a serious act of violence. The case underscores persistent security concerns for Jewish communities and the broader societal challenge of hate-motivated crime.
