Police in the southeastern Australian state of Victoria have arrested a suspect in connection with an arson attack on a synagogue in Melbourne on Friday night, during Shabbat prayers. The 34-year-old man from New South Wales allegedly carried out the attack around 8 p.

Local leaders denounced the episodes, which both took place on Friday evening: arson at a synagogue and a disturbance at an Israeli eatery.

Australian police have charged a man in connection with an alleged arson attack on a Melbourne synagogue with worshippers in the building, the latest in a series of incidents targeting the nation's Jewish community.