Police in Australia arrested a man on Saturday, a day after the door of a Melbourne synagogue was set alight while people were inside.

The 34-year-old man was charged with a string of offences, including reckless conduct endangering life, the Victoria state police said Sunday. 

Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese labeled the attack on the synagogue as "cowardly."

Australia is facing a growing wave of antisemitic incidents since the Israel-Gaza war started in late 2023.

What did Anthony Albanese say?

In a statement, the prime minister said: "Last night's arson attack on the synagogue in east Melbourne is cowardly, is an act of violence and antisemitism, and has no place in Australian society."

Albanese said he hoped the perpetrator would be swiftly brought to justice and "that he faces the full force of the law, and anyone involved in this attack faces the full force of the law."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the attack as "reprehensible."

"We demand that the Australian government take all action to deal with the rioters to the fullest extent of the law and prevent similar attacks in the future," he said. 

What more do we know about the attack?

Police said a man doused the double front doors of the downtown East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation and set it alight around 8 p.m. on Friday night.

The worshippers, who were sharing a meal to mark the Shabbat Jewish day of rest, evacuated through a rear door and no one was injured, the police statement continued.

Firefighters extinguished the blaze, which was contained to the front entrance, police added.

Victoria state police said they were investigating the "intent and ideology" of the perpetrator.

Authorities said they were probing if the attack was linked to an incident on Friday night at an inner-city restaurant in which one person was arrested for hindering police.

The Israeli restaurant was extensively damaged, according to reports.

Acting Victoria Police Commander Zorka Dunstan described the synagogue attack as a serious crime.

"I'd like to make it very clear that we do recognize that these crimes are disgusting and abhorrent. But at this stage, we are not declaring this a terrorist incident," Dunstan told reporters.

A terrorism declaration opens the investigation to more resourcing and can result in charges that carry longer prison sentences.

Antisemitism spikes over Gaza conflict

Jewish neighborhoods in Melbourne and Sydney have been hit by a wave of antisemitic vandalism since the Israel-Gaza war began on October 7, 2023.

Homes, schools, synagogues and vehicles have been targeted.

The incidents have included a fake plan set up by organized crime to attack a Sydney synagogue using a caravan of explosives to divert police resources, authorities said in March.

Last December, two masked men struck the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne's southeast, causing extensive damage by spreading a liquid accelerant with brooms throughout the building before igniting it. 

A worshipper sustained minor burns.

Edited by: Kieran Burke