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The Australian Federal Police is investigating potential overseas links to a rise in anti-Semitic attacks across Australia.
The police announcement came as a 33-year-old man, identified as Adam Edward Moule, was arrested and charged in connection with an arson attack on an inner Sydney synagogue.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has also convened a national cabinet meeting in response to escalating incidents.
Two masked men were captured on CCTV spraying swastikas on the Newtown Synagogue before allegedly firebombing the building on January 11. This was the second such attack on a synagogue in two days, with another also targeted with anti-Semitic graffiti.
On Tuesday evening, counterterrorism officers executed search warrants at two homes in Camperdown, arresting Moule and seizing several items for examination.
Moule was taken to St Vincent's Hospital under police guard. He now faces charges including property damage, possession of suspected stolen goods, and cultivating an illegal plant.
Tuesday's national cabinet meeting was called in response to a firebombing at the Only About Children childcare centre in Maroubra earlier that morning. The attack caused significant damage to the building, although it was unoccupied, and no injuries were reported.
Fire and Rescue NSW attended and found the ground floor well alight. (Source: Nine)
A wall near the childcare centre, located a block from Maroubra Synagogue, was defaced with the words "F*** the Jews" in black paint.
The Australian Federal Police has since announced it was investigating whether "overseas actors" were radicalising young people online and paying local offenders in cryptocurrency to carry out attacks in Sydney and Melbourne.
The Maroubra attack was just the latest in a string of incidents targeting Sydney's eastern suburbs, home to a significant Jewish community. On Friday, the former home of Alex Ryvchin, co-chief of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, was set on fire and defaced with slurs and red paint. Cars outside the property were also torched.
Offensive graffiti was located spray painted on an external wall. (Source: Nine)
Since October, Sydney has recorded at least nine major anti-Semitic incidents, including arson at synagogues, vandalism, and anti-Israel and anti-Jewish slogans being painted on buildings and vehicles. Similar attacks have been reported in Melbourne.
Following the crisis meeting, Australia’s national leaders issued a joint statement outlining measures to combat anti-Semitism.
A new national database will be established to track anti-Semitic crimes and behaviours, with the aim of improving coordination and responses.
"The purpose of one national reporting system is to better inform and coordinate responses to anti-Semitic incidents," the leaders said in a joint statement.
"The prime minister, state premiers, and chief ministers unequivocally condemn anti-Semitism and reaffirm their commitment to stamp it out in Australia."
Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw revealed at the briefing that the organisation was investigating 15 out of 166 reports received since Prime Minister Albanese established Operation Avalite on December 9 to investigate "violence and hatred" towards Jews in Australia.
A similar operation in New South Wales had already led to 36 people being charged with anti-Semitism-related offences, and a Victoria-based taskforce had made 70 arrests.
A 33-year-old man, identified as Adam Edward Moule, was arrested and charged in connection with an arson attack on an inner Sydney synagogue. (Source: NSW Police)
Kershaw is set to meet with state police commissioners across Australia on Wednesday.
Those waking up in Sydney on Wednesday would have already noticed an increase in police patrols, as NSW Police Force Commissioner Karen Webb announced an additional 20 investigators would be added to the counterterrorism strike force.
"This effectively doubles the investigative capacity of Strike Force Pearl, which continues to work tirelessly to identify and arrest those responsible for the recent antisemitic incidents in Sydney and put them before the courts," Webb said.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton claimed every anti-Semitic incident could be traced to the PM's purported failure to act — Albanese said his political rival was "just plain nasty".
World
Tue, Jan 14
Red swastikas were spray-painted across the front wall of Newtown Synagogue in Sydney's inner west in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Crime and Justice
Sun, Jan 12
A Sydney daycare was firebombed and defaced with graffiti near a synagogue on Tuesday morning.
Crime and Justice
2:36pm
"I have also significantly increased proactive taskings aimed to disrupt this type of criminal activity around significant sites and places of worship across Sydney.”
Prime Minister Albanese called the attacks "despicable and horrifying crimes" and promised to allocate resources to protect Jewish communities.
