Angelo Loras: East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation synagogue arsonist arrested after alleged bail breach

A homeless man with schizophrenia who firebombed a synagogue in Melbourne has been returned to custody just days after he was freed on bail. Angelo Loras, 35, was released from custody on Monday after spending 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 about 8pm on July 4. As many as 20 worshippers were inside the building for Shabbat and escaped without injury through the rear door of the heritage-listed building. Loras was released from custody 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 called on Wednesday in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court, Loras allegedly failed to appear, leaving magistrate Malcolm Thomas to issue an arrest warrant. Loras returned before Mr Thomas on Friday morning from custody where prosecutor Ryan Mallia revealed Loras had been arrested on Thursday. The magistrate accepted Loras didn’t fail to attend “in some deliberate fashion” after lawyer Ben McGrath said his client had struggled to travel around Melbourne because his electronic devices, which he uses to navigate, had not been returned by police. “He relies almost in an extreme sense on his phone and tablet for directions,” Mr McGrath said. Moving forward with the case, the defence lawyer suggested Loras remain in custody until Monday so he could undergo an assessment from community corrections on whether he’d be suitable for supervision in the community. This was accepted by Mr Thomas, who remanded Loras back into custody. Mr McGrath also raised a “quite alarming” health condition a custody nurse had spotted after Loras’ arrest on Thursday, saying his client revealed he’d been living with the issue for several months. Mr Thomas ordered custody authorities to have Loras medically assessed and taken to hospital if needed. Loras was captured on CCTV outside the synagogue dousing the front doors in an accelerant before setting them alight. After his arrest he told police he didn’t not know it was a synagogue, with a court being told Loras had been “very unwell” for a long time. Mental Health: Where to get help