Year begins with antisemitic graffiti and security fears

New cases of antisemitism

Australia’s Jewish community has begun the year under siege with a graffiti attack in Sydney, a break-in in Melbourne and security fears in the sporting community.

The phrase “Fuck the Jews” was tagged on the side of a car at Queens Park, Sydney. Police are investigating the incident, which comes after two other incidents nearby where anti-Israel slogans were graffitied on cars in Woollahra late last year.

In Melbourne, the arsonist who has been charged with setting fire to Caulfield racecourse was also found to have broken into to a Jewish community centre, directly after the fire. Travis Bird, 51, appeared at Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday charged with four counts of arson, two of trespass and one each of burglary, criminal damage and theft.

Police have yet to make arrests over last year’s antisemitic attacks, including the firebombing of Adass Israel synagogue and the two vandalism attacks in Woollahra.