Car torched, anti-Israel graffiti sprayed in Sydney days after Melbourne synagogue attack

SYDNEY — Vandals daubed anti-Israel graffiti in a Sydney suburb on Wednesday, police say, sparking “outrage” from Australia’s government days after a Melbourne synagogue was set ablaze.

Police say they are seeking two people aged 15-20 who wore face coverings in relation to the incident, in which a car was also torched in the early hours.

Graffiti was spread over the burned car, another vehicle, two buildings and a footpath, state police says.

Images on local media showed the misspelled phrase “Kill Israiel” painted in black on a white wall in the eastern suburb of Woollahra, which has a long-established Jewish community.

A contractor painted over the graffiti soon afterwards.

Woollahra this morning. pic.twitter.com/p2SgiKtTve

— Claire Lehmann ???????? (@clairlemon) December 10, 2024

“The incident in Sydney is an outrage and another antisemitic attack,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says in a statement on social media.

“I stand with the Jewish community and unequivocally condemn this attack. There is no place for hatred or anti-Semitism in our country.”

The Australian leader says he will be briefed by a federal police task force that was set up this week to investigate antisemitic attacks.