Australian PM condemns arson, anti-Israel graffiti

Australian police launched an investigation after a car was set on fire and houses vandalized with anti-Israel graffiti in Sydney.

The incident has been condemned by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as a “hate crime”. He told ABC News: “There is no place for anti-Semitism in this country, or anywhere else.”

It comes days after a fire engulfed a synagogue in Melbourne, causing minor injuries to a man, in what police are calling a likely terrorist attack.

Sydney authorities said they were searching for two people aged between 15 and 20 over the vandalism incident.

The pair were wearing “face coverings and dark clothing” and were seen fleeing the scene, NSW Police said.

“We need public assistance to come forward and help identify those two people,” Commissioner Karen Webb told reporters.

Police said the car fire was extinguished shortly after firefighters were called to the scene in Woollahra, a suburb in eastern Sydney, at around 01:00 local time (14:00 GMT).

Anti-Israel messages, including “Kill Israiel” (sic), were found scrawled on the fence of two properties and cars at the scene.

Albanese said he had spoken to the Australian Federal Police (AFP) about the vandalism.

Earlier this week, the law enforcement agency established a special task force to investigate incidents of antisemitism, including the alleged terror attack in Melbourne, and another wave of vandalism that occurred in Woollahra last month. Police do not believe the two Woollahra incidents are related.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said the latest incident appeared to have been “specifically designed” to “intimidate the Sydney Jewish community”.

“If the question is can we do more? I think the answer is yes, and I will not close the door on changes in the law,” he told reporters, adding that he had spoken to Israel’s ambassador to Australia, Amir Maimon.

NSW Jewish Board of Deputies president David Ossip said his community was “deeply saddened” by what happened but would “not be intimidated”.