A man has been charged over an arson attack on a Melbourne synagogue in an apparent escalation in antisemitic violence in Australia's second-most populous city.

The synagogue, situated in east Melbourne, saw no injuries to the 20 people present inside the premises who escaped the fire on Friday night.

Angelo Loras, 34, of Sydney, who describes himself as Iranian, suspected of starting fire at entrance to East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation building while 20 people were inside