<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>336690</docID> <postdate>2025-01-21 10:05:23</postdate> <headline>Daycare centre torched near synagogue in new hate crime</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-336708" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/antisemitism-e1737414613747.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="533" /></p> <caption>A childcare centre had been set alight in a fresh anti-Semitic attack on Sydney's eastern suburbs. Photo: Nine News</caption> <p class="wire-column__preview__author"><span class="kicker-line">By <b>Jack Gramenz </b>and<b> Alex Mitchell</b> in Sydney</span></p> <p><strong>Leaders have vowed to hunt down the "bastards" responsible for anti-Semitic attack on a childcare centre located a short distance from a synagogue.</strong></p> <p>The Only About Children centre in Maroubra in Sydney's east was set on fire shortly after midnight on Tuesday morning, while the words "F*** the Jews" were sprayed in black paint on a wall.</p> <p>The site is a block away from Maroubra Synagogue and the attack marks the latest in a string of anti-Semitic arson and graffiti incidents in the city's east, which is home to a large Jewish community.</p> <p>Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Premier Chris Minns, who both attended the site on Tuesday, pledged to throw all necessary resources at tracking down those responsible.</p> <p>"What we saw overnight... is the latest in a series of anti-Semitic hate crimes," Mr Albanese told reporters.</p> <p>"This is a place for children and families, and it should never have been denigrated by this despicable and horrifying crime."</p> <p>The ground floor of the childcare centre was well alight by the time firefighters arrived on the scene, NSW Police said.</p> <p>The blaze was put out but the building sustained extensive damage. There were no reports of injuries and the property was empty at the time.</p> <p>Scorch marks could be seen around broken windows of the childcare centre hours later and the burnt smell of the overnight firebombing was still evident nearby.</p> <p><img class="size-full wp-image-336691" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/20250117129935189752-original-resized.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="676" /></p> <caption>A house was sprayed with paint and two cars defaced and set alight in Sydney's east last week. (Neve Brissenden/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p>Mr Minns said more police would be added to an existing strike force investigating the spate of anti-Semitic attacks.</p> <p>"... I speak on behalf of every decent Australian when I say that these scenes of a torched-out childcare centre on the same (block) as a synagogue is completely heartbreaking," he said.</p> <p>"It is completely disgusting and these bastards will be rounded up by NSW Police."</p> <p>The latest incident comes as the nation's Jewish community is still reeling from a vandalism and arson attack on the former home of Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief Alex Ryvchin early on Friday.</p> <p>The house was defaced with slurs and red paint, and cars were set alight outside.</p> <p>That attack was the latest in a series of anti-Semitic arson and graffiti attempts, including the targeting of synagogues in Sydney and Melbourne.</p> <p>Opposition Leader Peter Dutton on Monday announced plans for tougher laws to combat anti-Semitism if he was elected, including minimum six-year sentences for terrorism offences.</p> <p>Those displaying terrorist organisation symbols, Nazi symbols or performing Nazi salutes would face at least a year behind bars.</p> <p>But Australian Lawyers Alliance spokesman Greg Barns said there was no evidence mandatory sentences deterred offenders, adding that minimum jail terms led to injustice.</p> <p>"They force courts to impose sentences where the circumstances do not warrant it because of the nature of offending, or the background of the offender," he said.</p> </body>