A man faces a hate crime charge after an event in Brisbane
Authorities have charged a man with a hate crime for reportedly driving his pickup truck into the gates of a synagogue in Brisbane, Australia.
Surveillance video captures the driver pulling up outside the synagogue on Friday night, shifting his Toyota Hilux into reverse, and crashing through the property’s gates before leaving the scene.
Acting Superintendent Michael Hogan of Queensland Police stated the suspect was arrested less than 90 minutes after the assault. Police reported the suspect almost hit a pedestrian before striking the synagogue. Hogan noted that investigators are looking into the potential influence of the suspect’s mental state or possible intoxication.
ANTISEMITIC ATTACK IN AUSTRALIA: A man was arrested and charged with a hate crime after ramming a truck into the gates of the Brisbane Synagogue in Queensland, narrowly missing a bystander as the gates fell.
— KolHaolam (@KolHaolam)
Libby Burke, Vice President of the Queensland Jewish Board of Deputies, denounced the attack. “This attack is not only an attack on my community, it is an attack on all of us,” she stated.
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli voiced his solidarity with the Jewish community on Saturday. “This is another signal as to why we have put strong laws before parliament to protect all people where they worship,” he remarked.
Since the conflict between Hamas and Israel began in Gaza in October 2023, numerous nations have seen a rise in anti-Jewish violence and hate crimes.
Two Islamist terrorists shot at a Hanukkah event at Sydney’s Bondi Beach in December 2025, resulting in 15 deaths. Separately, a man tried to ignite a synagogue in Melbourne in July 2025.
These events led Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to charge Australian officials with “appeasement” of Islamic extremism and with exacerbating anti-Semitism via their pro-Palestine stance.