Australia's prime minister has promised to take strong action following an apparent arson attack on a synagogue in Melbourne, the BBC reports.

"Antisemitism has no place in Australia," Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said following the attack on the East Melbourne synagogue. "Those responsible for these shocking acts must face the full force of the law and my government will provide all necessary support toward this effort."

Pictures showed a man pouring liquid on the synagogue's front door before setting it on fire on Friday night. Some 20 people having dinner inside at the time were evacuated without any injuries.

A man has been charged and is due to appear in court.

Angelo Loras, 34, from Toongabbie on the outskirts of Sydney, was arrested in Melbourne on Saturday and has been charged with arson and reckless conduct endangering life.

It is not clear if the incident was linked to the attack on the Miznon restaurant in the city's business district during which rioters broke in, throwing chairs and other objects while chanting "death to the IDF [Israel Defense Forces]". Some of the attackers were led away in handcuffs.

"These events are a severe escalation directed towards our community," said Alex Ryvchin, co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry.

“There have been too many antisemitic attacks in Australia," Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said. “The Australian government must do more to fight this toxic disease.”

The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has become a volatile political issue in Australia. It has resulted in protests from both Jewish and Muslim communities, as well as a sharp uptick in Islamophobia and antisemitism.

The Australian government has appointed a special envoy to combat antisemitism, and passed tougher laws against hate crimes following a wave of high-profile attacks.