<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>335051</docID> <postdate>2024-12-11 09:02:18</postdate> <headline>‘Abhorrent hate crime’: PM calls out anti-Semitic raid</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-335053" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/20241211166633311916-original-resized.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" /></p> <caption>The prime minister and NSW premier have condemned a hate crime in Sydney's eastern suburbs. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>Neve Brissenden</strong> in Sydney</span></p> <p><strong>The prime minister has labelled a new graffiti and arson attack as an "abhorrent anti-Semitic hate crime" after a spate of similar incidents across the country.</strong></p> <p>A car was burned on Magney Street, Woollahra in Sydney's east, a suburb known for its Jewish community, in the early hours of Wednesday morning.</p> <p>The vehicle, two buildings and a footpath were graffitied with hate speech, NSW Police said.</p> <p>The perpetrators are believed to be two people of slim build, aged between 15 and 20 years, wearing face coverings and dark clothing.</p> <p>The graffiti on one of the buildings said 'Kill Israiel' (sic).</p> <p>Anthony Albanese said it was an "anti-Semitic attack".</p> <p>"This isn't an attack on a government, this is an attack on people because they happen to be Jewish," he told ABC radio.</p> <p>"This is a hate crime, it's as simple as that."</p> <p>Mr Albanese said the perpetrators were guilty of "abhorrent criminal behaviour".</p> <p>"This does not change anything that is occurring on the ground in the Middle East," he said.</p> <p>"This is an attack against their fellow Australians."</p> <p>The incident has been escalated to the Australian Federal Police, after a spate of similar incidents across the country.</p> <p>On Friday, the Adass Israel Synagogue at Ripponlea in Melbourne's southeast was set alight in a pre-dawn attack while a number of people were inside.</p> <p>The federal police have set up Operation Avalanche to investigate what was labelled a "likely" act of terrorism.</p> <p>Operation Avalanche will now also investigate Wednesday's incident.</p> <p>This is the second such incident in Woollahra, which is home to more than 7000 people, after buildings and vehicles were targeted in November.</p> <p>A ute was set on fire, multiple cars were graffitied and a restaurant and other buildings were graffitied with anti-Israel messages.</p> <p>Two men were arrested and charged over that attack.</p> <p>NSW Premier Chris Minns branded Wednesday's incident an act of anti-Semitism.</p> <p>"I'll be speaking to police this morning," he posted on social media.</p> <p>"They will be found and they will face the full force of the law."</p> <p>Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin said it was designed to terrorise Jewish Australians.</p> <p>"The Jewish community again wakes to scenes of terror and devastation," he said.</p> <p>"How long will this continue and with what horrors will it end?"</p> </body>