A man has been charged over a suspicious fire at a Melbourne synagogue that happened amid a spate of antisemitic attacks on Friday night.

The 34-year-old man from Toongabbie, NSW, was arrested in the Melbourne CBD on Saturday evening about 8.15pm.

He was interviewed by detectives and charged with reckless conduct endanger life, reckless conduct endanger serious injury, criminal damage by fire, and possess a controlled weapon.

He will appear before the Bail and Remand Court on Sunday.

The arrest comes as Jewish communities are on edge after separate alleged antisemitic attacks as police step up patrols and counter-terrorism officers stand ready.

Twenty congregants were forced to flee the synagogue in East Melbourne on Friday night after a bearded man allegedly doused the building’s front door with flammable liquid before setting it alight.

Police said they were lucky no one was injured in the targeted act of antisemitism on the same night when protesters allegedly smashed a window, flipped tables and threw chairs outside Israeli restaurant Miznon in the CBD.

The group of protesters had splintered from a larger demonstration in the city before making their way to the establishment in Hardware Lane, where they allegedly chanted “death to the IDF”, referring to the Israel Defence Force.

A 28-year-old protester was arrested for hindering police, as detectives sift through CCTV as part of investigations.

Protesters outside Miznon restaurant on Friday night. Photo: X (Josh Stanyer Photography)

Hours later, offenders allegedly spray-painted three cars and a wall outside a Greensborough business in Melbourne’s northeast before setting fire to the vehicles, destroying one and damaging two.

Police said there were “inferences of antisemitism” and that the business had been “subjected to pro-Palestinian activity” in the past 12 months.

Police said they were not aware of any links between the three incidents as they continued their probes and have flagged a review of their response to a pro-Palestine demonstration in Melbourne on Sunday.

“Our investigators across all three incidents are liaising with our counter-terrorism command,” Commander Zorka Dunstan said.

None of the incidents have been declared terrorism-related but the force is increasing patrols around the synagogue and in the city’s southeast.

“We understand incidents of antisemitism can leave communities feeling targeted, threatened and vulnerable,” Dunstan said.

The attack on the 150-year-old temple was the 10th firebombing the Australian Jewish community has experienced in the past 12 months, Executive Council of Australian Jewry president Daniel Aghion said.

“If you think about terrorism as creating terror or fear, then yes, it is a form of terrorism,” he said.

“This is a pattern of behaviour designed to create fear amongst the Jewish community, which it will not do.”

Anti-Defamation Commission’s Dvir Abramovich said diners were terrorised and Melbourne “stopped being a safe place for Jews” for one night.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the alleged synagogue arson as a “cowardly” act of violence and antisemitism and slammed the attacks on the restaurant and business as unacceptable.

The federal government has offered federal police and security and intelligence agency support to investigators.

“Those responsible for these shocking acts must face the full force of the law,” he said.

The attacks come seven months after a blaze destroyed two buildings at the Adass Israel Synagogue in the city’s south and forced worshippers inside to flee.

No charges have been laid, although counterterrorism police have raided multiple properties as part of that investigation.

Israel’s foreign minister condemned Friday’s attacks and demanded Australian do more to combat antisemitism.

“Israel stands firmly with the Jewish community in Australia,” Gideon Sa’ar posted on social platform X.

“There have been too many antisemitic attacks in Australia.

“The Australian government must do more to fight this poisonous disease.”

-with AAP