A Melbourne judge has ruled that the man who set fire to the East Melbourne Synagogue was motivated by mental illness rather than antisemitism. Angelo Loras, who has schizophrenia and was not taking his medication at the time, pled guilty to arson and endangering lives, and was released due to time served. The attack occurred amid a rise in antisemitic incidents in Australia, including recent synagogue arson attacks and vandalism targeting Jewish communities in Melbourne and Sydney. Community leaders expressed concern over the incident and the broader trend of antisemitic acts across the country.