Arabic version: التحقيق في حريق متعمد بشركة دفاع في ملبورن كإرهاب محتمل من اليسار المتطرف

According to ABC News, the Victorian Joint Counter Terrorism Team is investigating an arson attack on Melbourne defence manufacturer Lovitt Industries as a possible act of terrorism potentially orchestrated by far-left extremists with anarchist and revolutionary ideologies.

The company, based in Melbourne’s north-east, was targeted in July last year. Three vehicles were set alight and a building was graffitied. After the attack, a video emerged from a group claiming responsibility and warning Lovitt to “stop arming Israel or else”.

In the video, a speaker dressed in black and standing before a Palestinian flag said Lovitt Technologies had been targeted because it supplied parts to the global F-35 fighter jet program, of which Australia and Israel are members. The video also included instructions for making firebombs similar to those used in the arson attack.

The team, involving Victoria Police, the Australian Federal Police and ASIO, has released images from the video and from the attack in an effort to identify those responsible. AFP Detective Superintendent Anthony Hall said police were progressing their investigation and had information about the alleged offenders.

Authorities have raised concerns about far-left extremism, particularly activity linked to conflict in the Middle East. ASIO Director General Mike Burgess said last November that events in the Middle East had triggered an increase in anarchist and revolutionary extremism, alongside more disruptive and damaging tactics against defence companies accused of supplying weapon components.