February 16, 2025

Australia investigates foreign links to anti-Semitic attacks

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Red swastikas (blurred) spray painted on the fence of Newtown synagogue in Sydney's inner west on Saturday. Photograph: Rheuben Freelander/PR Image

Australian authorities are probing potential ties between foreign actors and recent anti-Semitic attacks across the country, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced Wednesday.

The spate of incidents includes arson at a Sydney childcare center, vehicles set ablaze in predominantly Jewish neighborhoods, and synagogues defaced with red paint and graffiti. In December, masked individuals firebombed a synagogue in Melbourne.

Albanese revealed that some perpetrators might be “paid actors,” stating, “Some of these are being perpetrated by people who don’t have a particular issue, aren’t motivated by ideology, but are paid actors. It’s unclear who or where the payments are coming from.”

Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw added that investigators are examining whether financial support for the attacks came from overseas. “We are looking into whether overseas actors or individuals have paid local criminals in Australia to carry out some of these crimes in our suburbs,” Kershaw said.

Authorities have provided few details about the evidence collected or the suspected foreign entities behind the alleged funding.

In recent developments, police charged a 33-year-old man with attempting to set a Sydney synagogue on fire. Eight other individuals were charged on Tuesday in connection with a series of hate crimes dating back to November.

 

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