An arson on a prominent synagogue is likely a terror attack, police have declared, as governments look to increase protections for worshippers.
Victoria and Australian Federal police on Monday made the classification after the Adass Israel Synagogue attack at Ripponlea in Melbourne's southeast on Friday, a few weeks before the Jewish festival of Hanukkah.
The investigation will now transition to the Joint Counter Terrorism Team made up of state and federal police, and ASIO officers.
"This is likely to be a politically motivated attack. This is now a terrorism investigation," AFP Deputy Commissioner for National Security, Krissy Barrett told reporters.
The declaration opens up a raft of extra powers for investigators, including the ability to stop, search and seize people without a warrant as well as detain and question those they believe have knowledge of, or links to, the attack.
Police are looking for three suspects.
Victoria's Chief Commissioner Shane Patton defended the decision to not declare the attack a terrorist incident sooner.
"It was not believed to be sufficient to establish the threshold for a terrorist attack to be declared," he said.
"We've investigated over the weekend, we've had significant progress."
Police don't have any intelligence to suggest attacks could occur at other synagogues but patrols have ramped up in parts of Melbourne's southeast.
He said the suspects could be considered flight risks but would not confirm if they were known to police.
Two of the synagogue's three buildings were gutted in the fire that erupted in the early hours of Friday.
Two people who were inside at the time preparing for morning prayers escaped, with one suffering minor injuries.
Speaking alongside Mr Patton and Ms Barrett, Premier Jacinta Allan described Friday's blaze as "one of the most evil acts we've seen".
She said the government may introduce laws to protect people going to places of worship.
"I'm seeking initial advice on how we can strengthen the laws around making sure that people going to church, going to synagogues, going to mosques can do so safely," she said.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday announced a special taskforce to tackle anti-Semitic attacks given the fire is the third arson within months - following federal Labor MP Josh Burns' office being set alight and a car fire in Sydney.
If elected in 2025, the coalition will set up an AFP-led anti-Semitism taskforce to investigate historic complaints dating back to October 7, 2023 when Hamas launched an attack on Israel which in turn led to the ongoing Gaza war, and deport people on visas who display anti-Semitic behaviour.
At the synagogue, charred Torahs and papers are strewn across the wreckage of the building built by Holocaust survivors.
Congregants told AAP if the Torahs could not be saved, they would be buried and in the meantime they were gathering at another venue.
One member, who only wanted to be known as Sam, said keeping the community together was important as it provided a source of strength for those affected by the firebombing.
"It's just, it's really sad. We've lost our place, we've lost our place, our home," he told AAP.
"It was my home. I was literally here all day."
All said they plan on rebuilding despite the cost.
Jewish Community Council of Victoria CEO Naomi Levin said she had been told five Torah scrolls, handwritten copies of the book of Moses used during prayers, won't be salvaged.
Police are also investigating reports of a bullet found on a footpath near the synagogue in Glen Eira Road on Saturday afternoon but said there was nothing to suggest it was connected to the attack at this stage.
The synagogue remains closed to the public.
