A car with a “Happy Chanukah” sign was set ablaze in Melbourne’s St Kilda East in a suspected antisemitic attack, days after the Bondi Beach Hanukkah shooting. Police are investigating and searching for leads as the Jewish community voices safety concerns
Australian authorities are investigating a “suspicious fire” after a car displaying a Hanukkah sign was set on fire in Melbourne on Thursday morning.
The vehicle, adorned with a “Happy Chanukah” sign on its roof, was parked in a driveway in the Melbourne suburb of St Kilda East when flames engulfed it, images broadcast by ABC showed. The car was empty at the time of the fire.
“Detectives have identified a person who may be able to assist with their investigation and they are actively searching for and making enquiries into their whereabouts,” police said in a statement.
The investigation comes amid heightened concerns over hate crimes targeting the Jewish community. Authorities across Australia are reviewing and stiffening laws and penalties in response to antisemitic attacks.
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Rabbi Effy Block, of the local Chabad of St Kilda, called the incident a clear act of antisemitism. “Thank God no people were harmed,” he told AFP.
“But this is a continuing escalation, where we see these events happening again and again,” he added. “My Jewish community in St Kilda and Melbourne do not feel safe in their own homes and country.”
The Melbourne car fire comes just 11 days after a mass shooting at a Hanukkah festival on
Bondi Beach in Sydney left 15 people dead and several others injured. The attack, which targeted Jewish worshippers celebrating the festival, sent shockwaves across the country and sparked a nationwide conversation about antisemitism and public safety. Authorities have since increased security measures at Jewish community events and are urging vigilance.
With antisemitic incidents showing signs of escalation, Australian law enforcement is under pressure to respond swiftly. Police investigations continue in Melbourne, with detectives following leads and reviewing footage from the neighbourhood to identify the person responsible.
While the fire did not result in any injuries, the incident has left the local Jewish community shaken.
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