Detectives in Victoria are urgently seeking a man they believe may hold information about a suspected antisemitic arson attack, which saw a rabbi's car firebombed in Melbourne on Christmas Day.
Details of the St Kilda East Attack
Emergency services were called to a property on Balaclava Road in St Kilda East at approximately 2.50am on Thursday, 25 December. A vehicle parked in the driveway had been deliberately set alight. The car was fitted with a mobile billboard on its roof celebrating Hanukkah, the Jewish festival which ended on 22 December.
No one was inside the vehicle at the time. However, as a precautionary measure, a woman and three children were evacuated from the adjoining house. The Moorabbin Crime Investigation Unit is treating the blaze as a targeted arson attack.
Person of Interest Identified
Following their initial investigation, detectives have publicly asked 47-year-old John Argento to contact Victoria Police. Argento is known to police and has an outstanding arrest warrant for deception-related offences.
Police describe Argento as living a transient lifestyle, frequently moving between Melbourne's inner southern and northern suburbs. He is 185cm tall, with a thin build, blue eyes, grey hair, and a fair complexion.
"We won't fully understand the motives of this arsonist until we get them into custody," said Assistant Commissioner Chris Gilbert of the Southern Metro Region. He added that while the attack is considered targeted, there is no indication of a broader threat to the Jewish community at this stage.
Context and Official Response
This incident occurs against a distressing backdrop, coming just over a week after the terror attack at Bondi Beach in Sydney, where gunmen opened fire at a Chanukah celebration. Authorities are investigating potential links to antisemitism.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the firebombing, stating: "The firebombing of a car in Melbourne is another terrible act of suspected antisemitism... There is no place in Australia for this kind of hatred and it has to stop."
Police are also wishing to speak with Argento in connection with a car break-in that occurred roughly 20 minutes after the arson attack. Operation Trinity units and other officers conducted searches overnight, but no arrests have been made. The firebombed vehicle will undergo forensic analysis by an arson chemist.
Authorities are urging anyone with information, dashcam, or CCTV footage to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
