MELBOURNE, Australia — A man was charged Sunday over an arson attack on a Melbourne synagogue in an apparent escalation of antisemitic violence in Australia’s second-most populous city.

Angelo Loras, 34, appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court Sunday charged with arson, endangering life and property damage. He also was charged with possessing a “controlled weapon” on Saturday when he was arrested. The charge sheet does not say what that weapon was.

The Sydney resident did not enter a plea or apply to be released on bail. Magistrate John Lesser remanded Loras in custody to appear in court on July 22.

The congregation escaped without harm via a rear door and firefighters contained the blaze to the entrance area of the 148-year-old building.

It was the first of three apparent displays of antisemitic violence across the city on Friday and early Saturday morning.

Authorities have yet to establish a link between incidents at the synagogue and two businesses.

— The Associated Press