Australian police have launched an investigation after a car was set on fire and houses vandalized with anti-Israel graffiti in Sydney.
The incident was 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 for that matter.”
It comes days after a fire broke out at a synagogue in Melbourne, causing minor injuries to one man, in what police are treating as a possible terror attack.
Sydney authorities said they are looking for two people aged between 15 and 20 in connection with the vandalism incident.
The pair were wearing “masks and dark clothing” and were seen fleeing the scene, New South Wales police said.
“We need the public’s help to identify those two individuals,” Commissioner Karen Webb told reporters.
Police said the car fire was extinguished shortly after firefighters were called to the scene in Woollahra, a suburb east of Sydney, at around 01:00 local time (14:00 GMT).
Anti-Israel messages, including “Kill Israel” [sic]They were found at the scene, scratching the fence of two places and cars.
A burnt out car was driven by the suspects and arrived at the scene of the incident, said the police.
Albanese said he spoke to the Australian Federal Police (AFP) about the vandalism.
Earlier this week, the law enforcement agency set up a special task force to investigate incidents of anti-Semitism, including the alleged terrorist attack in Melbourne, and another vandalism attack in Woollahra last month. Police do not believe the two incidents in Woollahra are linked.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said the latest incident appeared to be “specifically designed” to intimidate Sydney’s Jewish community.
“If the question is can we do more? I think the answer is yes, and I’m not closing the door to changes in the law,” he told reporters, adding that he had spoken with Israel’s Ambassador to Australia, Amir Maimon.
The president of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, David Ossip, said his community was “deeply saddened” by what had happened, but said “they will not die”.
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