STORY: Closed circuit television (CCTV) footage re-released by Australian police on Wednesday (August 27) showed the moment perpetrators set a Melbourne synagogue on fire last December, in what Australia says was an arson attack orchestrated by Iran.

The footage from December 6, 2024, originally released in May this year, showed three hooded figures, one of whom was wielding an axe, unloading red jerry cans from the boot of a car near the entrance of the synagogue, and setting it alight before leaving the scene.

Australia's intelligence agency traced the funding of the hooded criminals who allegedly set fire to the synagogue, linking the antisemitic attack to Iran, officials said, even as those charged with the crime were likely unaware that Tehran was their puppet master.

A 20-year-old local man, Younes Ali Younes, appeared in Melbourne's Magistrates Court on Wednesday charged with the December 6 arson attack on the Adass Israel synagogue and theft of a car. He did not enter a plea and did not seek bail. His lawyer declined to comment to Reuters.

A day earlier Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australia's intelligence agencies had shown the attack, and another in Sydney last year, were directed by the Iranian government, and expelled Tehran's ambassador. Iran's Foreign Ministry said it "absolutely rejected" Australia's accusation.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

VIDEO SHOWS: CLOSED CIRCUIT TELEVISION (CCTV) FOOTAGE FROM DECEMBER 6, 2024, SHOWING ARSON ATTACK ON MELBOURNE SYNAGOGUE THAT AUSTRALIA SAYS WAS ORCHESTRATED BY IRAN, ORIGINALLY RELEASED BY POLICE ON MAY 15, 2025, AND RE-RELEASED ON AUGUST 27, 2025

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

EDITORS NOTE: ALL TIMESTAMPS ARE LOCAL

SHOWS: MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA (FILE - DECEMBER 6, 2024) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE / VICTORIA POLICE - No resale. Must not obscure logo) (MUTE) (NIGHT SHOTS)

1. CAR DRIVING SLOWLY IN FRONT OF ADASS ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE AT 03:58:48 LOCAL TIME

2. CAR DRIVING SLOWLY IN FRONT OF SYNAGOGUE AT 04:07:54

3. CAR DRIVING SLOWLY IN FRONT OF SYNAGOGUE AT 03:59:24 AND COMING TO A STOP

4. CAR DRIVING SLOWLY IN FRONT OF SYNAGOGUE AT 04:04:41

5. CAR DRIVING SLOWLY IN FRONT OF SYNAGOGUE AT 04:07:59 AND COMING TO A STOP

6. CAR DRIVING SLOWLY IN FRONT OF SYNAGOGUE AT 04:10:07

7. CAR STOPPED IN FRONT OF SYNAGOGUE WITH DOORS AND BOOT OPENED, PERSON IN DARK HOODIE REMOVING WHAT APPEARS TO BE AN AXE FROM CAR AND FILMING ON PHONE, PERSON IN LIGHT HOODIE PUTTING DOWN RED CONTAINER BEFORE TAKING AXE FROM THEM AND RUNNING TO SYNAGOGUE ENTRANCE AND SMASHING DOOR WHILE BEING HELPED BY THIRD PERSON AT 04:22:28

8. AT 04:22:59 PERSON IN LIGHT HOODIE POURS SUBSTANCE FROM RED CONTAINER, PERSON IN DARK HOODIE SMASHING GLASS BEFORE RUNNING TO CAR TO GRAB TWO MORE RED CONTAINERS WHILE TWO ACCOMPLICES ENTER BUILDING

9. AT 04:23:42, PERSON IN DARK HOODIE GRABS ONE MORE RED CONTAINER FROM CAR, WALKS TO SYNAGOGUE AND LEAVES CONTAINER BEHIND BEFORE WALKING BACK TO CAR

10. AT 04:24:16, ALL THREE PERSONS COME OUT FROM SYNAGOGUE / PERSON IN DARK HOODIE LIGHTING MATCH AND SETTING SYNAGOGUE ON FIRE AT 04:24:40 / FIRE BURNS IN SYNAGOGUE AND CAR DRIVING AWAY