Protestors Set Childcare Centre on Fire in Heartbreaking Anti-Jewish Act
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and NSW Premier Chris Minns attended the scene, while the opposition also strongly condemned the attack.
A childcare centre in Maroubra in Sydney’s east was a scene of chaos after being set alight amid an ongoing antisemitism spree in Australia’s major cities.
The building was allegedly set on fire and defaced with the words: “[Expletive] the Jews,” although no-one was inside at the time.
The attack is the latest antisemitic incident in Sydney and Melbourne despite an ongoing ceasefire deal in the Middle East, prompting calls for harsher penalties against the perpetrators.
New South Wales (NSW) Police confirmed an investigation was underway.
“Fire and Rescue NSW attended and found the ground floor well alight. The blaze was extinguished; however, the building sustained extensive damage.”
Premier Describes the Incident as ‘Heartbreaking’
NSW Police said they took hate crimes seriously and encouraged victims or witnesses to report the matter via Crime Stoppers.
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Both NSW Labor Premier Chris Minns and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese were quick to arrive at the scene and condemned the attack.
A national cabinet meeting will be held on the afternoon of Jan. 21 in response to the incident.
Premier Minns described the scene as “heartbreaking.”
“It breaks your heart that we have animals in our city that are prepared to burn down a childcare centre to make this point. We are seeing a wave of antisemitic attacks in our community. It’s deeply distressing,” he told reporters.
Minns said the rise in antisemitic attacks in NSW was a major concern for the government.
“What I can promise is that the resources of the NSW Police, the [NSW] government, and the Commonwealth government are directed at this today and tomorrow and, as long as it takes to catch the people who are responsible for it.”
State Opposition Leader Mark Speakman described the incident as a “vile, cowardly, and apparently antisemitic attack.”
Latest in Long Series of Antisemitic Attacks
The attack is the latest in a series of antisemitic incidents across Sydney and Melbourne stemming from the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attack on Israel.
Incidents include offensive graffiti, arson attacks on cars or buildings, and firebombing of the Adass Israel Synagogue.
Executive Council of Australian Jewry Alex Ryvchin, whose former home was targeted in a separate attack last week, called for national cabinet to deal with the matter.
said on X.
“Places of worship, homes and now pre-schools have all been targeted by domestic terrorists. Antisemitism consumes everything. It is the disease that is destroying our country. We need national cabinet to deal with what is a national emergency.”
PM Promises Full Force of the Law
Prime Minister Albanese said his government would support NSW Police in hunting down the offenders, and ensure Operation Avalite is activated.
“The only objective which will be achieved by this crime is the fulfilment of these people being caught, charged, and facing the full force of the law,” he said.
“This is a place for children and families, and it should never have been denigrated by this despicable and horrifying crime.”
Meanwhile, federal Shadow Home Affairs Minister James Paterson drew attention to a letter from Opposition Leader Peter Dutton to the prime minister calling for earlier action on the matter.
