Cars have been torched and sprayed with a barrage of anti-Semitic messages in an affluent suburb in Sydney’s east.
Several vehicles were found to have been set alight and graffitied with anti-Semitic messages and a home splashed with red paint on Military Rd, Dover Heights at about 4am on Friday.
Firefighters were dispatched to the scene to extinguish the flames before the fire could spread. No injuries were reported, and police officers remained at the scene several hours later.
Cars in an affluent Sydney suburb have been torched and hate messages sprayed on them in the early hours of Friday. Picture: Madeline Crittenden
“The NSW Police Force takes hate crimes seriously and encourages anyone who is the victim of a hate crime of witnesses a hate crime to report the matter to police,” a statement from NSW Police read.
“It is important that the community and police continue to work together to make NSW a safer place for everyone.”
Premier Chris Minns condemned the “disgusting and dangerous act of violence”.
“I’ve been alerted to the anti-Semitic attacking Dover Heights overnight,” he said in a statement per The Daily Telegraph.
“This is a disgusting and dangerous act of violence that is the latest example of a rising level of anti-Semitic attacks in our community.
“Civil society stands united in condemning this flagrant racism.
“I’ll be getting an update from police this morning and we’ll be doing everything we can to catch these thugs.”
Multiple cars and at least one home in the heart of a prominent Jewish community have been targeted by vandals in another anti-Semitic attack in Sydney’s east. Picture: 7News
The incident comes days after two synagogues in Newton and Allawah were targeted in anti-Semitic attacks, with both buildings sprayed with swastikas, and the Newton building set alight.
Anthony Albanese have implemented new strategies to target anti-Semitism across the country, enlisting an Australian Federal Police task force to “crack down on anti-Semitism, threats, and violence”.
“The rise of anti-Semitism is abhorrent and there is no place for the kind of hate speech and attacks we have seen recently,” the Prime Minister said in a statement.
“It’s why we’re taking action to stamp out the scourge of anti-Semitism.”
The taskforce – known as Operation Avalite – has received 124 reports of potential criminal activity since its inception, of which 102 are still under investigation.
Police have set up a crime scene and are investigating the incident. Picture: Madeline Crittenden
On Thursday, the AFP arrested and charged a 44-year-old Sydney man with using carriage service to make a death threat and to menace, harass or cause offence, after being linked to a social media account posting threatening comments.
“A number of individuals are under investigation and the community should expect further charges. It is abhorrent that individuals are being targeted and threatened because of their race or religion,” AFP assistant commissioner Stephen Nutt said.
“Anti-Semites should be on notice. If you engage in anti-Semitic conduct, you will investigated and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”
Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.