Brisbane Synagogue Rammed: Man Charged with Hate Crime
A 32-year-old man has been charged with multiple offences, including a hate crime, after allegedly ramming a ute into the gates of the Brisbane Synagogue on Friday night. No one was injured in the incident, which police are not treating as a terrorist act.
The incident occurred shortly after 7:15pm on Friday, February 21, 2026, at the synagogue located on Margaret Street in Brisbane’s central business district. According to police, a black ute struck and knocked down the gates before fleeing the scene.
Police quickly responded and, with the assistance of Polair, tracked the vehicle and arrested the man. He appeared via video link in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Saturday and was remanded in custody.
Acting Superintendent Michael Hogan stated that while the attack was targeted at the synagogue, investigators do not believe the man intended to injure anyone or enter the building. “Police are considering the man’s mental health and intoxication as being contributing factors,” Superintendent Hogan said.
The man faces charges of wilful damage, serious vilification or a hate crime, dangerous operation of a vehicle and drug possession offences. Police allege the man intended to damage the gates.
Libby Burke, the vice-president of the Queensland Jewish Board of Deputies, expressed the community’s distress. “All Jews in Queensland should be able to attend synagogue and live our lives free from fear,” Burke said. “This attack is not only an attack on my community, it is an attack on all of us.” She emphasized that the synagogue is a sacred place of prayer and community.
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli described the alleged attack as concerning and stated that Jewish Australians would understandably be feeling deeply distressed. “I have spoken to Jewish leaders, as well as police, and I want to assure Queenslanders we are taking this seriously,” Crisafulli wrote on social media. He also highlighted the importance of strong laws to protect people at places of worship, referencing legislation currently before parliament.
The incident comes amid ongoing debate surrounding proposed hate speech legislation in Queensland. An inquiry into the bill has revealed concerns from various stakeholders, including the Federation of Islamic Councils, the Islamic Council of Queensland, and the Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland, who reportedly felt they were not adequately consulted during the drafting process. The proposed laws would grant the state’s attorney general the power to outlaw phrases deemed hateful, with violations punishable by up to two years in prison.
Police investigations into the incident are ongoing.
