Summarize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs Patton said joint counter-terrorism teams in every jurisdiction in Australia met regularly to share intelligence and worked closely with Australian Security Intelligence Organisation and federal police.He said he had spoken to his NSW counterpart – Commissioner Karen Webb – for an update on the situation in NSW just hours before being interviewed by this masthead.Last year, Patton warned that religious radicalism was the state’s greatest public security threat.On Thursday, he said his key concern around hate crimes in Victoria was the “huge rise we’ve seen in antisemitism” – describing the incidents reported to police as “abhorrent and disgusting”.The explosives were found inside a caravan at a Dural property in Sydney’s north-west on January 19.Credit: TNVHe said such reports had surged since Hamas militants killed 1200 people in the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel that triggered the war in Gaza that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians.“We’ve seen a significant rise in antisemitism,” he said. “It remains our biggest concern.”Patton said that since the October 7 attack, more than 160 antisemitic incidents had been reported in Victoria and police officers had so far made 70 arrests. This masthead was unable to verify how many of these arrests had led to charges being laid.LoadingThe reported antisemitic incidents spanned from verbal and physical abuse of people in the Jewish community, to vandalism, a neo-Nazi demonstration on the steps of parliament, and a firebombing of a Melbourne synagogue, he said.About 20 reports of Islamophobia have been reported to police during the same period.Victoria Police launched Operation Park, which monitors prejudice-motivated crimes, last year.Under it, police are also meeting with community and religious leaders and ensuring police units were focused on suburbs or religious buildings where there was a threat of hate crimes or the community felt unsafe.Patton said this operation had led to police bolstering “assurance patrols” in suburbs that had borne the brunt of antisemitic attacks, including Melbourne’s Jewish heartland of Caulfield and Ripponlea.He estimated up to 5000 officers had been deployed to Melbourne suburbs since October 7 in 2023.Asked for an update into the investigation of the December firebombing of the Adass Israel synagogue, Patton said finding those responsible remained “the number one priority” of Victoria Police’s Counter-Terrorism Command.“It is an absolute priority for us,” Patton said. “I want to give assurance that we’re throwing absolutely everything we can at it, and we understand the community’s need for it to be resolved as soon as possible.”Patton – who on Wednesday visited the destroyed synagogue in Ripponlea for the first time – described the attack as “horrendous”.“I thought it was important to go down and see it,” Patton said.The destroyed interior of the Adass Israel synagogue on Friday, December 6.“They showed footage to me of what the synagogue was like before, showing this energised, amazing hub of their community, everyone engaged, from children right up to old persons and just enjoying the facility.“Now, it’s a burnt-out shell inside.”Members of the Adass Israel congregation were forced to flee in the early hours of December 6 as fire engulfed the synagogue after the arson attack by two masked suspects.The blaze gutted the building, leaving charred ruins, a tangle of wiring and a collapsed roof. The fire also destroyed some holy Torah scrolls and damaged others.About two weeks later, neo-Nazis stormed the steps of Victorian parliament, holding an antisemitic sign.On Thursday, Albanese refused to answer questions on when he was briefed about the discovery of the Sydney caravan and the subsequent investigations into it.NSW Premier Chris Minns earlier confirmed he had been informed about the police operation on January 20 – though details only emerged publicly on Wednesday.“What I do is I don’t comment on operational matters,” Albanese said.“There are two issues that are my priority. The first is making sure that people are kept safe. The second, which is related to that, is making sure that any investigations aren’t undermined and that the police and national security agencies are able to do their work.”
