An anti-hate taskforce charged with tackling the “bigger picture” of antisemitism will meet within days, as Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan vows to stamp out hatred towards Jews.

At least four violent incidents in Melbourne at the weekend are being treated as antisemitic attacks, including the firebombing of a synagogue on Friday night.

Angelo Loras, a 34-year-old man from Sydney’s west, faced court on Sunday, accused of setting the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation’s front doors alight while 20 people were inside.

The congregation was singing traditional songs as it sat down for dinner after a regular service, when chaos broke out.

“My 13-year-old son comes running in and says, ‘something’s not right, the doorbell has been ringing’,” Rabbi Dovid Gutnick told ABC radio.

That’s when they saw smoke and flames coming from under the door.

Shortly afterwards, Israeli restaurant Miznon in the Melbourne CBD was targeted by masked pro-Palestinian protesters. A window was smashed, tables flipped and chairs thrown as the group chanted “death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)”.

Hours later, cars were spray-painted with antisemitic “inferences” and set alight outside a Greensborough business in the city’s north-east.

CCTV footage released by Victoria Police shows figures in black hooded jumpers lighting the fires. Detectives are looking for five people who were last seen fleeing on e-bikes.

A fourth incident involved offensive images spray-painted on pillars and walls near a holocaust museum in Elsternwick.

Allan visited the synagogue on Monday, after revealing details of the anti-hate taskforce intended to “look at the bigger picture across our city and state”.

“Just as the fire came to the front door here of this shule, that it was stopped, so too must we put a stop to the hate, put a stop to antisemitism,” she said outside.

She thanked police for their swift action in what she said was a “sickening crime”.

“Places of worship like this synagogue are a part of our fabric as a society,” Allan said.

“We will protect them with everything we’ve got.”

The incidents have not been declared terrorist attacks, but Victoria Police is working with counter-terrorism officers to investigate potential links.

A 28-year-old from Footscray was arrested for allegedly hindering police at Miznon, but has since been released.

Police are still working on identifying other protesters involved.

A group called Whistleblowers, Activists and Communities Alliance took responsibility for the incident.

“While politicians in so-called Australia clutch their pearls over one meal that was interrupted, we ask people to refocus their attention on Israel’s genocidal reign of terror over the Palestinians,” a statement on the group’s Instagram read.

Gutnick said his community was reeling from the incident, and that people could have empathy for one group without descending into hate.

“There is a boundary, and people have gone beyond the pale in the things that they’ve said and now in the things that are being done,” he said.

“Words don’t end at words. They lead to actions.”

Victoria Police, the state government and Melbourne Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece will this week examine police powers to stamp out extreme and violent protests.

“We back our police, we’re giving them more powers,” Allan said.

She had promised bans on protests outside places of worship and demonstrators wearing face coverings after a blaze destroyed two buildings at the Adass Israel Synagogue in the city’s south in December. The legislation is yet to be introduced to state parliament.

The weekend attacks have drawn an international response, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanding action against the “rioters”.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said those responsible for the “shocking acts” must face the full force of the law, as the US Embassy in Australia praised the “swift response”.

Victorian Opposition Leader Brad Battin said a crackdown on hate speech at protests was needed, with the reinstatement of  “move on” laws.

Federal opposition frontbencher Melissa McIntosh has called for an urgent national cabinet meeting to deal with the issue.

-AAP