A New Zealand resident inside the Melbourne synagogue that was the target of an alleged arson attack on Friday has expressed deep concern over the shift from hate speech to violent acts.

The incident, which occurred at the East Melbourne Synagogue, saw flammable liquid poured over a door and set alight. Approximately 20 people were present at the time. Counter-terrorism police have since arrested a 34-year-old man in connection with the attack.

Among those inside the synagogue was New Zealander Murray Meltzer. He described the Shabbat service as "very tranquil" before the attack. The congregation regularly gathers for Friday evening services and often stays for dinner afterward, which was the case on Friday night.

"Shortly before 8pm, the synagogue's bell began ringing repeatedly, which is unusual," Meltzer told RNZ's Morning Report. He explained that a child noticed something amiss on the CCTV monitor and alerted others. Smoke soon began to seep under the front entrance and into the sanctuary.

"We ran to the front to try and put out the fire. Fortunately, passersby called the fire brigade, and they arrived quickly," Meltzer said. The next day, the gravity of the situation became clear when the Saturday morning service was met with a large press presence.

The attack is part of a broader pattern of rising anti-Semitic and Islamophobic incidents in Australia since the outbreak of the Israel-Gaza war in 2023. In December 2024, another Melbourne synagogue was set on fire. In early 2024, Australia banned Nazi salutes and the public display of symbols associated with designated terror groups like Islamic State and Hamas.

More recently, American rapper Kanye West had his visa revoked after releasing a song titled 'Heil Hitler,' which praised the Nazi Party leader. In Sydney, a synagogue was graffitied with swastikas, and anti-Islamic graffiti appeared in the city's west.

Meltzer emphasized that the perpetrator of the Melbourne attack must have known people were inside, as all the lights were on. He warned that the situation has shifted dramatically from hate speech to violence.

"It's been left to fester and develop, and I guess the speech has moved from just a bit of hate speech into violence. That's a real concern for us as a community," Meltzer said.

Australian politicians from both major parties have condemned the incidents. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his "utmost gravity" regarding the attacks, while Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that such acts "have no place in our country."

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke described the attack as "an attack on Australia." He noted that while no one was physically injured, the Jewish community and the nation as a whole were harmed.

As tensions continue to rise, the community is left grappling with the implications of such acts and the need for increased vigilance and unity in the face of hate.