Early Tuesday morning, a childcare center in Sydney was set ablaze, with antisemitic graffiti found sprayed on the walls. The incident, occurring near a Jewish school and synagogue in the city's east, caused extensive damage to the center. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries resulting from the attack, which took place around 1 a.m.
This marks the second antisemitic attack on property within four days in Sydney, adding to a concerning trend of crimes targeting the Jewish community in Australia's most populous city. New South Wales state Premier has expressed determination in apprehending the perpetrators, emphasizing the increased resources allocated to investigating hate crimes.
Antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents have been on the rise in Australia following recent events in the Middle East. The assault on Gaza by Hamas has triggered a surge in hate crimes, with Sydney alone reporting several incidents in the past two months.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the attack as a 'vicious crime,' highlighting the severity of the situation. With national elections approaching, antisemitism has become a significant issue, prompting calls for stronger measures to combat hate crimes against the Jewish community.
In response to the escalating attacks, the Australian federal police have established a task force dedicated to investigating threats and violence directed at the Jewish community. The task force recently made its first arrest, charging a 44-year-old man for allegedly making death threats against a Jewish organization.
