Childcare center torched in latest antisemitic attack in Australia, no injuries

A childcare center in Sydney was set alight early morning today and antisemitic graffiti was sprayed on the wall, authorities say, the latest in a spate of attacks in Australia targeting the Jewish community.

The childcare center, located near a Jewish school and synagogue in the city’s east, suffered extensive damage but there were no reports of injuries in the attack which occurred around 1 a.m. (1400 GMT, Monday), police say.

“Fuck the Jews,” is written the wall next to the center.

It was the second antisemitic attack on property in four days in Sydney, and comes amid a spate of similar crimes targeting the Jewish community in Australia’s most-populous city.

New South Wales state Premier Chris Minns says the perpetrators would be caught and police have put more resources into investigating hate crimes, as public frustration grows over the lack of arrests following previous antisemitic attacks.

“The kind of people who would… attack a fellow Australian whom they don’t know because of their race or religion, it is completely disgusting and these bastards will be rounded up by the police,” Minns says during a media briefing.

Australia has seen a rise in antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas assault on Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza.  At least half a dozen incidents were reported in the last two months in Sydney alone.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese describes the latest attack as “a vicious crime.”

BREAKING: Terrorist firebombing attack on Jewish preschool in Sydney. The terrorists spray painted “FUCK THE JEWS” next to the burning building.

I thought they just wanted a ceasefire???

We need mass arrests and deportations for Islamist extremists inciting the violence pic.twitter.com/PeUQjNPQ1M

— Drew Pavlou ???????????????????????????????? (@DrewPavlou) January 21, 2025