“He stated he was carrying a small amount of alcohol in his plastic bottle, which he no longer wished to possess, and therefore he chose the synagogue, thinking it was a residential premises, to set the alcohol on fire.”
Loras claimed he had poured the alcohol on concrete ground and did not know anyone was inside the synagogue at the time, he said.
Vision of the fire was played to court, in which a man in black can be seen pouring a liquid near the entrance before setting it on fire, and is then nearly engulfed himself, before leaving the scene.
The detective admitted police could not find a motive for the blaze after searching Loris’ mobile phone and tablet, but noted a large Star of David and writing in Hebrew could be seen above the door of the heritage building.
The fire caused damage to the synagogue’s front door and carpet, but no one was injured.
Vertigan said Loras was originally from Iran and had moved to Australia on a humanitarian visa nine years ago. He had previously lived in NSW, where he still had family.
The detective said Loras had quit a forklift driving job in NSW and moved to Victoria between nine and 12 months ago, and he had been “living rough that entire time” and receiving Centrelink payments.
“He did state that he had been living under a bridge near the Flinders Street railway station,” Vertigan said.
The bail application was adjourned part-heard to Tuesday.
AAP
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