Rammed the gates of the Brisbane synagogue - sentenced to prison and released immediately

An Australian court sentenced Matthew Alexander Donald De Campo to six months in prison for ramming his car into the gates of the Great Synagogue in Brisbane in February. The judge ordered his immediate conditional release, crediting his 83 days in custody. He pleaded guilty to willful damage and two drug offenses; the prosecution dropped the hate crime aggravating factor.

The Brisbane Magistrates Court in Australia sentenced Matthew Alexander Donald De Campo, 32, to six months in prison for ramming his car into the gates of the city's Great Synagogue on February 20, 2026. Magistrate Megan Power ordered his immediate conditional release, crediting the 83 days he had already spent in custody. De Campo pleaded guilty to willful damage and two drug-related offenses. The prosecution dropped the hate crime aggravating factor. The incident occurred around 7:15 PM; security camera footage shows the vehicle accelerating in reverse into the gates. One gate was torn off, and the damage was estimated at about 12,000 Australian dollars. A person standing behind the gate moved out of its path moments before the collapse; no one was injured. In court, it emerged that De Campo was in a severe mental state, appeared paranoid, and suffered from delusions. The defense argued he had deteriorated into cannabis and methamphetamine use. After being released on bail in May, he entered a three-month rehabilitation program, and the defense presented his progress in recovery.