Australian detectives are currently looking into the possibility of foreign actors paying criminals to carry out antisemitic attacks in the country. This investigation comes in response to a surge in antisemitic crimes in Australia following the conflict between Israel and Hamas that began on October 7, 2023.
The Australia Federal Police Commissioner revealed that there are suspicions that criminals-for-hire may be involved in some of these incidents. Authorities are now focused on determining who is funding these criminals, their whereabouts, whether they are local or international, and what their motives might be.
Police are also exploring the potential involvement of young individuals who may have been radicalized online and incited to commit antisemitic acts. Additionally, they are investigating the use of cryptocurrency as a means of payment for these crimes, which can complicate the identification process.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese refrained from speculating on the sources of funding for these antisemitic crimes, emphasizing the need to understand the origins of these attacks. Recent incidents include an arson and graffiti attack on a childcare center near a Sydney synagogue, part of a series of targeted assaults in major cities like Sydney and Melbourne, where most of the country's Jewish population resides.
Following the recent attack on the childcare center, New South Wales Police have increased the number of detectives working on Strike Force Pearl, a specialized unit dedicated to investigating antisemitic crimes. The efforts of this task force led to the arrest of a 33-year-old individual charged with attempting to set fire to a synagogue in Sydney. The suspect's case has been adjourned to allow time for legal representation, while authorities anticipate the arrest of his alleged accomplice in the near future.
