A man suspected of setting fire to an Australian synagogue as worshipers ate dinner inside has been arrested and charged, police said Sunday, as they investigated if the attack was terror related.

Angelo Loras, 34, from the Sydney suburb of Toongabbie, is suspected of setting ablaze the front door of the busy East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation synagogue on Friday night while around 20 people were inside for a Shabbat meal.

Victoria state police charged Loras with a string of offenses, including reckless conduct endangering life. He was not named in connection with two other attacks against the Jewish community that took place around the same time.

“The man allegedly poured a flammable liquid on the front door of the building and set it on fire before fleeing the scene,” police said in a statement. “Detectives will continue to examine the intent and ideology of the person charged to determine if the incident is in fact terrorism.”

The worshipers escaped unscathed through the back of the synagogue before firefighters doused the blaze.

Loras appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates Court and was ordered held in custody until a July 22 hearing. He did not apply for bail.

Loras describes himself on the social media platform X as “Single, Iranian, forklift driver, music lover.”

The attack was the latest of a rash of incidents to target Jews in Melbourne and Sydney, much of it thought tied to anger over Israel’s actions in the Middle East, with Australian leaders vowing to crack down on perpetrators.

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