Synagogue Arsons and Antisemitic Attacks Since October 7: A Documented List

Since October 7, 2023, Jewish institutions in the Western world have been subjected to a sustained wave of attacks that multiple governments and Jewish community organizations have described as the worst surge in antisemitic incidents since World War II. The attacks range from vandalism and graffiti to arson and physical assaults.

The following are confirmed incidents:

Australia: On December 6, 2024, the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne was firebombed. In August 2025 the Australian government and ASIO attributed that attack (and an earlier Sydney arson) to Iran's IRGC acting through proxies, and expelled Iran's ambassador; Iran denies it (source). Further arson attacks were attempted at other Melbourne Jewish institutions in subsequent months. Jewish schools in Melbourne and Sydney increased security perimeters.

Canada: Synagogues in Toronto and Montreal were vandalized with pro-Palestinian graffiti and had windows smashed. A Jewish school in Montreal received credible bomb threats.

France: Dozens of incidents in 2023–2024, including multiple attempted firebombings of Paris-area synagogues. The CRIF (Representative Council of Jewish Institutions in France) reported the highest annual incident count since records began.

Germany: The Central Council of Jews in Germany reported a record number of antisemitic incidents in 2023, with a sharp increase in physical attacks following October 7.

United Kingdom: The Community Security Trust (CST), which monitors antisemitic incidents, reported the highest number of incidents ever recorded in a calendar year in 2023 — more than 4,000. This included arson attempts, physical assaults, and threats against synagogues and Jewish schools.

United States: The Anti-Defamation League's 2023 audit recorded 8,873 antisemitic incidents — the highest since the ADL began tracking in 1979. (Some critics note the 2023 count included anti-Israel rally incidents under a revised methodology.) Jewish institutions in multiple cities increased security.

Later deadly attacks: On October 2, 2025 (Yom Kippur), an attacker killed two people at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue in Manchester, UK (NPR).

Some attacks occurred around pro-Palestinian demonstrations. Others were attributed by authorities to state actors: Australia attributed the Melbourne synagogue arson to Iran's IRGC.

The attacks are not a response to Israeli actions against specific individuals — the victims are diaspora Jews with no connection to the Israeli government or military. They represent collective punishment of Jewish communities for the actions of a government they do not control, in a country where most of them do not live.

This is the definitional structure of antisemitism: hostility toward Jews as Jews, not toward specific Israeli policies.