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A man deliberately drove a truck into the gate of a synagogue in central Brisbane, Australia, on Friday night in what police were investigating as a hate crime.
Security footage showed a 32-year-old man arriving at the synagogue and reversing his vehicle into the entrance. As a result, the collision dented one gate and ripped the other from its hinges.
A person standing nearby moved out of harm’s way as the structure fell. Fortunately, no one suffered injuries in the incident.
Shocking antisemitism in Australia.
Brisbane’s synagogue entrance was rammed by a van during Shabbat prayers on Friday, nearly striking worshippers standing at the gates.
A 32-year-old man was arrested. pic.twitter.com/j5gkXUV85b
— Combat Antisemitism Movement (@CombatASemitism) February 22, 2026
Police quickly tracked the vehicle, located the suspect, and arrested him. Authorities have since charged him.
Queensland Police Service Acting Superintendent Michael Hogan said investigators determined the man intended to damage the property. However, police were not treating the case as terrorism. Instead, they were examining whether intoxication or mental health issues contributed to the incident.
Meanwhile, Jewish leaders said the attack sent a more troubling and far-reaching message. Dr. Dvir Abramovich, chair of the Anti-Defamation Commission, underscored the broader significance of the attack. “We are told this is not being treated as terrorism,” he said. “But when a synagogue is deliberately attacked, the label matters less than the impact. The fear is real. The shock is real. The message is unmistakable.”
He further warned that antisemitism in Australia had intensified since the October 7th Hamas massacre in Israel.
“Since October 7, antisemitism in this country has not whispered, it has roared,” Abramovich noted. “It has leapt from slogans to smashed windows, from online bile to physical assaults on Jewish spaces and individuals as we saw at Bondi. And now, a car used like a battering ram against a synagogue in the heart of Brisbane.”
Jewish institutions across the world are facing growing hostility. Therefore, preventing further escalation requires sustained resolve, public clarity, and firm consequences.
Take Action
CAM has launched Report It — a secure app to report antisemitic incidents anonymously and in real time. Don’t stay silent — download it today on the Apple Store or Google Play. See it. Report it. Stop it. Together, we can fight this hate.brisss
