The Australian police has launched an investigation after a car was set on fire and houses were vandalised with anti-Israel graffiti in Sydney.
The incident has been criticised by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as a “hate crime”, telling ABC News that “There’s no place for antisemitism in this country, or anywhere for that matter.”
This public condemnation is coming days after a fire razed a synagogue in Melbourne, causing minor injuries to one individual (a man), in what police there are now treating as a possible terror attack.
Authorities in Sydney are now looking for two people aged between 15 and 20 to apprehend over the vandalism incident.
The New South Wales Police had said the pair had been wearing “face coverings and dark clothing” and were seen running from the scene.
Police said the car blaze was extinguished shortly after firefighters were called to the scene in Woollahra, a suburb in Sydney’s east, at around 01:00 local time (14:00 GMT).
Anti-Israel messages, including “Kill Israiel” [sic], were found at the scene, scrawled on the fence of two properties and cars.
The vehicle that was set on fire had been driven to the scene by the suspects, police said.
Earlier this week, the law enforcement body inaugurated a special task-force to investigate incidents of antisemitism, including the purported terror attack in Melbourne, and another vandalism spree that occurred in Woollahra last month but the Police have said that the two incidents in Woollahra are linked.
Meanwhile, a New South Wales Premier, Chris Minns said the latest incident appeared to have been “specifically designed” to “intimidate the Jewish community in Sydney”.
