John Argento, 47, appeared in Melbourne magistrates court on Tuesday charged with a Christmas Day arson attack on a car bearing a Hanukkah sign outside a rabbi's home. The defendant declared his innocence during the hearing, stating, 'I'm innocent of this arson.'
Argento faces multiple charges, including six counts of criminal damage by fire, six counts of shop theft, three counts of obtaining property by deception, two counts of attempted theft from a motor vehicle, theft from a motor vehicle, and burglary. He is accused of setting alight a car displaying a chanukiah symbol in St Kilda East in the early hours of Christmas Day. No one was inside the vehicle, but the house was evacuated as a precaution.
Police allege Argento may have also been involved in a nearby car break-in about 20 minutes after the arson. The court heard that Argento has diagnosed schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder, and is at risk of self-harm. He was remanded in custody to appear again on Thursday.
The targeted car belonged to a friend of Rabbi Effy Block from the Chabad of St Kilda. The incident occurred less than two weeks after the alleged terror attack at Sydney's Bondi beach, which claimed 15 lives. Naomi Levin, chief executive of the Jewish Community Council of Victoria, said the community remains on edge, describing it as a continuation of daily fear.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan stated that police briefed her on what the community fears is an antisemitic incident, adding that no family should wake up to such an event on Christmas Day.
