Australia last year\u00a0blamed Iran\u00a0for fires that damaged Lewis\u2019 Continental Kitchen, a kosher eatery in Sydney, and Melbourne\u2019s\u00a0Adass Israel Synagogue\u00a0<\/a>two months apart in 2024.<\/p>\n A major diplomatic rift led to Iran\u2019s ambassador being expelled. Tehran denies the allegations.<\/p>\n Burgess, presenting his annual update on national security threats, said that an Australian citizen based in Iran directed the Sydney firebombing, while a former Australian resident living in Iraq had directed the Melbourne attack.<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tGet The Times of Israel’s Daily Edition \t\t\t\tBy signing up, you agree to the terms<\/a><\/p>\n He did not name the suspects to protect ongoing investigations and criminal prosecutions.<\/p>\n \t The Australian citizen was a senior IRGC agent running its networks around the world, Burgess said.<\/p>\n Iran had recruited the man through a \u201ccomplex web of Iraqi-based militia groups,\u201d Burgess said, adding that the IRGC had valued his criminal connections and supported his continuing crimes.<\/p>\n \u201cThat changed dramatically after ASIO publicly named Iran\u2019s involvement in the arsons,\u201d Burgess said.<\/p>\n \u201cThis person\u2019s Iranian backers lost their enthusiasm and after further pressure from Australian and local law enforcement, they threw him in prison,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Burgess described the investigation into the Sydney and Melbourne attacks as \u201cone of the most difficult and detailed in recent ASIO history.\u201d<\/p>\n \t He had previously said that the Revolutionary Guard was suspected as being behind other antisemitic crimes in Australia since the start of Israel\u2019s war against Hamas in 2023.<\/p>\n Several people are facing\u00a0charges\u00a0in connection with the arson attacks. It remains unclear whether they were aware who they were working for.<\/p>\n The Australian government has established a public inquiry to investigate a rise in antisemitism across the country, including the killing of 15 people when two gunmen opened fire on a Sydney Hanukkah celebration in December at Bondi Beach.<\/p>\n Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tFILE: A handout photo taken on July 12, 2024, shows Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO) Mike Burgess (L) speaking next to the Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police Reece Kershaw during a press conference in Canberra. (Handout \/ AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE \/ AFP)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AFP__20241210__36Q284P__v4__HighRes__AustraliaReligionPoliceFireCrime-640x400.jpg\")
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\n\t\tThis handout photo taken and released by the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet on December 10, 2024, shows Australia\u2019s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (2nd R) and Rabbi Shlomo Kohn (R) visiting the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne on December 10, 2024, after it was set ablaze on December 6. (Handout \/ DEPARTMENT OF PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET \/ AFP)<\/p>\n
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