2024 Iranian operations inside Australia

2024 Iranian operations inside Australia
Date20 October 2024 (2024-10-20) (Sydney)
6 December 2024 (2024-12-06) (Melbourne)
Location
Typealleged state-sponsored terrorism (denied by the accused)
TargetJewish Australians
Jewish businesses and synagogues
Organised bySayed Moosawi (Pleaded not guilty)

Iran (evidence undisclosed)

Outcome
  • Iranian ambassador to Australia expelled, given 3 days to leave the country
  • Embassy of Australia in Tehran closed until further notice
  • Australian diplomats evacuated from Iran to third country
  • IRGC listed as a state sponsor of terrorism
Non-fatal injuries1
Property damageA$46 million (estimated)
Arrests9
Accused
  • Sayed Moosawi
  • Wayne Ogden
Sayed Moosawi
Known for
    • Former Nomads bikie gang chapter president
    • Caravan bomb hoax.
    • Allegedly organised the arson attacks in Sydney and Melbourne.
Judicial statusPleaded not guilty
Call signJames Bond
Motive
  • Money
  • Influencing a criminal prosecution
Details
LocationsSydney and Melbourne
Wayne Ogden
Known forAllegedly set the fires in Bondi.
MotiveMoney
Details
LocationSydney

In 2024, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), at the direction of the Iranian government, organised and carried out at least two terrorist attacks within Australia. The first of the attacks occurred on 20 October 2024, when a group of arsonists led by Australian Sayid Moosawi conducted an attack on Lewis Continental Kitchen, a kosher restaurant in Sydney. The second attack took place on 6 December 2024, when another group of Australian arsonists firebombed the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne, injuring one congregation member and dealing approximately A$45 million of property damage. Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) director Mike Burgess said he believes Iran was also responsible for more antisemitic attacks in the country.

On 26 August 2025, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that the IRGC was responsible for the attacks. In the press conference, Albanese said he had expelled the Iranian ambassador and closed operations at the Australian embassy in Tehran. It marked the first time Australia had expelled an ambassador since World War II.