Angelo Loras: East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation synagogue arsonist arrested after alleged bail breach
A homeless man suffering from schizophrenia who threw a firebomb at a synagogue in Melbourne has been detained again, just days after being released on bail.
Angelo Loras, 35, was released Monday after 134 days in solitary confinement.
Loras was arrested by police two days after the front doors of the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation synagogue were set on fire at around 8pm on July 4.
About 20 worshipers who were in the building for Shabbat escaped unharmed through the back door of the heritage-listed building.
Loras was released on bail on Monday after pleading guilty to arson and recklessly placing people at risk of death and was due to return to court on Wednesday for sentencing.
But when his case was heard in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, Loras allegedly failed to appear and magistrate Malcolm Thomas had to issue an arrest warrant.
Loras appeared before Mr Thomas on Friday morning from custody, where prosecutor Ryan Mallia announced Loras’ arrest on Thursday.
The judge accepted Loras had not “deliberately” neglected to attend the meeting after lawyer Ben McGrath said his client had difficulty traveling around Melbourne because the electronic devices he used for navigation were not returned by police.
“He relies almost excessively on his phone and tablet for directions,” Mr. McGrath said.
Continuing the case, defense counsel recommended that Loras remain in custody until Monday so he can undergo community corrections to determine whether he is fit for supervision in the community.
This was accepted by Mr Thomas, who took Loras back into custody.
Mr McGrath also described a “quite worrying” medical condition identified by a custody nurse after Loras’ arrest on Thursday, saying his client had been living with the condition for several months.
Mr. Thomas ordered the detention authorities to have Loras medically evaluated and taken to a hospital if necessary.
Loras was captured on CCTV outside the synagogue dousing the front doors with accelerant before setting them on fire.
Following his arrest he told police he did not know it was a synagogue and the court was told Loras had been “very bad” for a long time.
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