OUTRAGE: A Melbourne court ruled that the arson attack on the East Melbourne Shul was not motivated by antisemitism, after Angelo Loras, 35, pleaded guilty to arson and recklessly placing people at risk of death.

The attack occurred on July 4, when Loras set fire to the Shul’s front door while about 20 people were inside sharing a Shabbos meal. No one was injured.

Magistrate Malcolm Thomas accepted the defense argument that the crime was not driven by antisemitism, noting that prosecutors did not present evidence showing a hate motive.