Canberra, Australia – In his annual security threat assessment address, Mike Burgess, head of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), announced the direct involvement of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in attacks targeting the Jewish community in Australia. He asserted that the operations were carried out through expatriates with ties to Tehran.
Details of the attacks and Iranian involvement
كشف بورغيس أن واقعة الحريق المتعمد التي استهدفت كنيس “هداسا” في ملبورن يوم 6 ديسمبر 2024، أدارها مقيم عراقي له تاريخ إقامة في أستراليا. وأشار إلى أن إيران جندت الفرد عبر “شبكة معقدة من الجماعات المسلحة المتمركزة في العراق”.
وأضاف أن الحرس الثوري استغل الثروة الكبيرة لهذا الشخص وعلاقاته الإجرامية لدعم أنشطته غير القانونية. كما أكد بورغيس أن الضغط الأمني العلني الذي مارسته السلطات الأسترالية أدى إلى تخلي الشبكة الإيرانية عن دعم المنفذ. والمُنفذ تم إيداعه السجن لاحقا.
In a related development, Burgess explained that the deliberate attack on the Louis Continental Kitchen restaurant in Bondi, Sydney, on October 20, 2024, was carried out by an Australian citizen currently residing in Iran. He described it as “the first major attack of the summer of antisemitism.” According to the head of intelligence, the perpetrator is a “senior operative in the Quds Force” and is responsible for managing the force’s networks around the world. He also revealed detailed information about his connections to a clandestine unit known as “Unit 11,000.” This unit is responsible for coordinating Iranian operations in the West.
Stern warning message
Given the confidentiality of the judicial investigation, Burgess declined to name the individuals involved. However, he issued a direct warning to those behind the attacks, saying, “I want them to understand that we know who you are, we know what you’ve done, and we know who you work for.” Burgess indicated that the Melbourne attacker had mental health issues. He also noted that Iran remains the prime suspect in other antisemitic attacks. Burgess concluded by emphasizing that antisemitism in Australia is a complex phenomenon stemming from multiple sources and challenging traditional intelligence methods.
These statements present the Australian government with growing security challenges. This necessitates enhanced monitoring of foreign activities that seek to destabilize society and target Australian communities through foreign proxies.
