Angelo Loras: Man accused of East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation synagogue fire to face new ‘tough bail’ law change

The man police allege is behind a fire attack on a Melbourne synagogue last month will fall under Victoria’s new “tough bail” changes when he seeks to be released on Friday, a court has been told. Angelo Loras, 34, was charged by police on July 6 with offences including arson and reckless conduct endanger life after the front doors of the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation synagogue were set on fire two days earlier. As many as 20 worshippers inside the building for Shabbat escaped without injury through the rear door, while the blaze damaged the timber doors of the heritage-listed synagogue on Albert St. Mr Loras was allegedly captured on CCTV attending the synagogue about 8pm, dousing the front doors with an unknown liquid before setting them alight. Mr Loras, a resident of New South Wales, appeared in the Online Magistrates Court on Tuesday morning as his lawyer Ben McGrath sought to withdraw a bail application. The application had begun on Friday last week and was expected to continue on Tuesday, however Mr McGrath said, due to court scheduling limitations, it was “unreasonable” to proceed. “Your Honour, I have serious doubts about whether we’re going to be able to finish this application today in the circumstances,” he said. Mr McGrath requested another date to start the bail application again, which the court was told could occur this Friday. At this point, prosecutor Anthony Albore flagged changes to Victoria’s bail laws were taking effect from Tuesday, which would raise the arson charge to a schedule 2 offence. Under the new law, the test to be applied to determine whether Mr Loras is granted bail would require him to show he has “compelling reasons” to be released. “Today parliament made amendments to the Bail Act, one of those lists arson as a schedule 2 offence,” Mr Albore said. “My position would be, noting the application would be starting fresh, the applicant would have to show compelling reasons for the grant of bail next Friday.” Introduced to the Victoria parliament by Premier Jacinta Allan in March, the changes, titled the Bail Amendment (Tough Bail) Bill 2025, were designed to “improve community safety”. “This bill will amend the guiding principles to make it crystal clear that community safety is of overarching importance for all decisions on bail,” Ms Allan said at the time. Mr Loras will return to court on Friday.