A rabbi and his family were forced to leave their residence in the early hours of Christmas morning following a firebombing incident in Australia. This event occurred amidst the aftermath of the recent shootings at Bondi Beach, causing concern locally and globally.
The targeted car, belonging to the rabbi, was set on fire in the early hours of Christmas morning in St Kilda East, Melbourne. Subsequently, law enforcement evacuated the religious leader and his family from their home due to safety precautions after the car was torched at around 2:50 am on December 25th.
Authorities from the Victoria Police are conducting an investigation into the arson attack, which took place on Balaclava Road in Melbourne. The silver sedan, adorned with a “Happy Chanukah” sign, was parked in the rabbi’s driveway when it was set ablaze.
A spokesperson for the Victoria Police confirmed that they are actively searching for an individual linked to the arson incident. The Moorabbin Crime Investigation Unit detectives are leading the probe into the suspicious fire that occurred in St Kilda East.
St Kilda East and its neighboring areas have a substantial Jewish population, with recent census data showing Judaism as the predominant religion, accounting for 27.9% of residents.
The targeted attack, perceived as antisemitic, occurred shortly after the Bondi Beach terror incident where two gunmen opened fire during a Chanukah celebration. The burnt car was removed from the property, leaving shattered glass remnants in the driveway, adjacent to a prominent Jewish school.
The rabbi, who chose to remain anonymous, was identified as a friend by St Kilda Chabad rabbi Effy Block. Block highlighted the distress caused by the incident, emphasizing the need for concrete actions to combat antisemitism and ensure safety for the Jewish community.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed his condolences to the Jewish community following the Bondi attack and condemned the suspected antisemitic firebombing in Melbourne. He assured that federal authorities are prepared to provide assistance and emphasized that such acts of hatred have no place in Australia.
Naveed Akram, 24, has been charged in connection with the Bondi Beach terrorist attack that resulted in the tragic loss of lives during a Jewish festival. Local authorities, including Macnamara MP Josh Burns, are actively involved in the ongoing investigation.