Australian police arrest 14 members of organized crime ring linked to antisemitic attacks

Australian police say they have charged 14 members of an organized crime ring accused of menacing the country with attacks dressed up as antisemitic hate crimes.

Jewish neighborhoods in Sydney city have in recent months seen synagogues daubed in antisemitic graffiti, buildings firebombed in the dead of night and cars torched by vandals.

Although the crime wave stoked fears about rising antisemitic  in Australia, police said they no longer believed many of these incidents were driven by “ideology.”

Instead, police said it appeared to be an attempt by organized criminals to gain favor by carrying out high-profile attacks — and then tipping off authorities later.

New South Wales Police said today that 14 people had been arrested and charged with 65 offences, including taking part in a “criminal group,” arson and destroying property.

“None of the individuals we have arrested… have displayed any form of antisemitic ideology,” NSW Police deputy commissioner David Hudson said yesterday evening after a series of raids.

“I think these organized crime figures have taken an opportunity to play off the vulnerability of the Jewish community,” he added.