Daily London
A Rabbi’s car displaying a Happy Hanukkah sign was firebombed in his driveway on Balaclava Road in St Kilda East about 2.50 yesterday morning.
A woman and three children were evacuated from the house after the car erupted into flames just metres from their bedroom.
Following investigations, police have released an image of 47-year-old John Argento, urging him or anyone who knows his whereabouts to contact them.
Argento is known to police and has an outstanding warrant related to deception offending.
“He is wanted on a warrant at this stage for [allegedly] using a stolen credit card,”
“We will allege he may have been involved in other property offences as well, so stealing from cars.”
Police suspect Argento may be connected to the damage of a car that was broken into in a nearby street about 20 minutes after the arson attack.
Detectives believe he frequents Melbourne’s inner southern suburbs, including St Kilda, St Kilda East and Caulfield, as well as the northern suburbs.
He moves around frequently and doesn’t appear to have a permanent address at the moment, police said.
He is about 185 cm tall, has a thin build, blue eyes, grey hair and a fair complexion.
“If you see him, contact Triple-Zero and someone will be sent around,” Southern Metro Region Assistant Commissioner Chris Gilbert said.
Detectives believe the suspected arson attack was targeted, but said he does not pose a specific risk to the Jewish community.
“We understand the devastating impact this type of offence has on our Jewish community, and we are continuing to prioritise this investigation. We won’t fully understand the motives of this arsonist until we get them into custody
“At this stage, we do not believe there is a broader threat to the Jewish community. We want to thank people in the area for their assistance in this investigation so far.”
Despite a thorough search overnight including operation Trinity units, Public Order Response team and uniform police, they have been unable to locate the suspect.
The vehicle will be forensically analysed by an arson chemist.
The home belongs to a well-known local Rabbi, who is in New York with one of the couple’s children.
He is now scrambling to get home to be with his shaken family.
“There is no doubt that they are a family who’s now in fear,” Gilbert said.
“I’ve had some of my senior team go and meet with them today to reassure them that their safety is well and truly in our thoughts.”
Officers will be patrolling the area and providing public reassurance.
“We have a lot of staff that are currently working here in the area and right across the state today in terms of public safety,” Gilbert said.
“We are here in numbers, we’re here to support [the Jewish community] we’re here all day and night.”
Shadow Housing Minister for Victoria, David Southwick, called for a recall of parliament.
“The community is absolutely on edge. This is the last thing we’d want coming off the Bondi attack,” Southwick said.
“Its time to recall parliament – the premier’s been talking really tough about a whole lot of things, well now, we need action.”
The incident comes just weeks after the Bondi terrorist attack, and also a year after a synagogue in nearby St. Kilda was a fire bomb, and the wake of the October 7 terror attack in Israel.
