Anthony Albanese is heckled as he tries to leave synagogue – as large crowd swarms around him

Anthony Albanese was rushed back into his car after abruptly cutting short a press conference outside a Melbourne synagogue that was firebombed in a suspected terror attack. 

Mr Albanese visited the Adass Israel Synagogue in the heart of the city’s Jewish community on Tuesday and had planned to take questions from the media outside destroyed temple shortly after 1pm.

But the press conference ended abruptly when a crowd gathered around him, with some heckling him.

‘You are late, you are late’, one woman shouted at Mr Albanese, appearing to take a swipe at him for playing tennis in Perth just a day after the attack, and for taking 48 hours to label it a terrorist event.

‘You let this happen, buddy,’ she shouted. 

One heckler shouted at him to ‘go live in Gaza,’ while another said it ‘was a nice day for tennis’. 

AFP officers were forced to shout at bystanders, urging them to ‘stand clear’ and ‘watch out, watch out, get back,’ as his a worried-looking Mr Albanese rushed to his waiting motorcade. 

Mr Albanese had earlier asked the restless crowd to take ‘two steps back’ as they clustered around him. 

He spoke briefly, telling those gathered that the people responsible for the ‘evil act’ would be brought to justice. 

‘This arson attack is an act of terrorism,’ Mr Albanese said. 

‘It was fueled by anti-Semitism, and it was stoked by hatred. We’re a country that needs to come together and unite.

‘One of the things that we spoke about inside with the community leaders was the fact that people have come to Australia because we are a country that is peaceful.

‘We are a country that respects people of different faiths and are enriched by our diversity here, and I want to thank the Rabbi and all the community leaders for the very warm welcome that they have given me here today.

He added that ‘Australia is not a country that will tolerate such an act’.

Liberal leader Peter Dutton visited the crime scene on Monday. 

Over the weekend Mr Albanese’s government was condemned by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for fostering a rise in anti-Semitism in Australia. 

Meanwhile, The Australian Jewish Association said anti-Semitism had ‘surged’ under the Albanese government. 

‘Labor has stood by as ugly antisemitic protests have taken over our streets, week after week,’ Mr Gregory said.

‘They have stood by as ‘Free Palestine’ extremists have targeted Jewish Synagogues and schools. There was an antisemitic protest outside Sydney’s Great Synagogue, just this week.

‘Labor has stood by as extremist Islamic preachers have preached toxic antisemitism. They have stood by as Jews were assaulted in the street and our universities were taken over by anti-Jewish radicals, setting up encampments.’

Israel’s war in Gaza was sparked by listed terror group Hamas’ attack on October 7, 2023, which killed 1200 people and 250 hostages taken, according to Israel’s tallies.

The official death toll in Gaza has eclipsed 44,000, according to the local health ministry, with tens of thousands more missing or believed to be buried under rubble.

The damage to the Synagogue is estimated to be in the millions, with the building almost completely destroyed.

Photographers were granted access to the building on Monday morning, with images showing the burnt-out devastation left inside. 

Australian Federal Police Deputy Commissioner Krissy Barrett said the fire appeared to be ‘politically motivated’.

‘We will not tolerate crimes that undermine Australia’s security or our way of life,’ she said.

The Australian Federal Police have established a special task force to investigate incidents of anti-Semitism. 

‘I want to assure the Jewish community that the AFP will continue to provide capability and resources to state and territory police. However, from today, the AFP will take a greater role,’ AFP commissioner Reece Kershaw said.

‘The AFP will not tolerate crimes that undermine Australia’s security or our way of life.

‘The national terrorism threat level remains at Probable. When I raised the threat level earlier this year, I noted there was a greater than 50 per cent chance of a terrorist attack in the next 12 months.

‘Sadly, this appalling incident appears to embody the ugly dynamics that ASIO has been warning about.’