A 32-year-old man has been charged with committing a hate crime after he drove his pickup truck into the gates of Brisbane Hebrew Congregation synagogue during Friday night prayers.
The incident took place on Margaret Street in the central business district of Brisbane.
CCTV footage captured the moment the black Toyota Hilux utility arrived at the synagogue, reversed into the gates, dented one gate, and knocked the other off its hinges. A person was seen moving out of the way as the gate fell. No one was wounded.
Police investigate hate crime after truck crashes into synagogue
The driver later circled back past the synagogue and stopped outside the Queensland Holocaust Museum.
Queensland Police later located the vehicle and took the driver into custody. He appeared in front of the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Sunday on multiple charges, notably wilful damage, serious vilification or hate crime, dangerous operation of a vehicle, possession of dangerous drugs, and possessing utensils or pipes, etc. for use.
Queensland Police said it believes the man acted alone and that there is no ongoing threat to the community. Counter-terrorism police also said they believe it was not an act of terrorism, but potentially related to drugs and mental health issues.
"An attack on all of us": Leaders react to hate crime
Libby Burke, the vice president of the Queensland Jewish Board of Deputies, expressed that the community feels “deeply distressed” by the targeting of their synagogue. “This attack is not only an attack on my community; it is an attack on all of us,” she said.
She also expressed the community’s “extraordinary gratitude” to the Queensland Police Service for their “prompt action” and support.
Queensland Leader of the Opposition Steven Miles said he was “deeply troubled” to hear of the incident.
“Queensland’s Jewish community should always feel safe and respected, especially in a place of worship,” he said. “There is no place for hate or intimidation in Queensland.”
Academic Dvir Abramovich, chair of the Anti-Defamation Commission (ADC), commented on the incident, saying, “We are told this is not being treated as terrorism. 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.
“Since October 7, antisemitism in this country has not whispered; it has roared. It has leapt from slogans to smashed windows, from online bile to physical assaults on Jewish spaces and individuals as we saw at Bondi [Beach during the Hanukkah shooting]. And now, a car used like a battering ram against a synagogue in the heart of Brisbane.”