Albanese to lead National Cabinet meeting on antisemitic attacks

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Australian Federal Police (AFP) are investigating whether “overseas actors or individuals” may have paid local criminals in cryptocurrency to carry out antisemitic attacks inside the country.

AFP commissioner Reece Kershaw said on Tuesday that the force was probing 15 serious incidents that had occurred since December and that all lines of inquiry were open, including whether young people who may have been “radicalised online” were involved.

The announcement came after a childcare centre was set alight and graffitied with an antisemitic slogan in the eastern suburbs of Sydney earlier in the day.

It is the latest in a series of antisemitic arson and graffiti incidents in the city’s east, which is home to one of its largest Jewish communities.

NSW Premier Chris Minns described the attack as a “vicious hate crime”. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese convened a National Cabinet meeting over the matter, to address what he called “the shocking rise” of antisemitic attacks.

In a statement after the meeting, he announced that a national database to track antisemitic “crime and other incidents and behaviours” would soon be established.

A white building is visible through a tangle of vines and behind a white board.

The childcare centre was damaged by the fire. Source: AAP / Jack Gramenz

“The purpose of one national reporting system is to better inform and coordinate responses,” he said.

Police said the building in Maroubra was set alight at around 1am on Tuesday, the eighth such incident in the last three months.

When questioned by reporters, Minns denied he has “lost control”.

“These bastards will be rounded up by NSW police,” he said.

“I want to make it clear that this is atrocious.”

Minns said: “We are seeing a wave of antisemitic attacks in our community.”

“It’s deeply distressing. It breaks your heart that we have animals in our city that are prepared to burn down a childcare centre to make this point.”

The childcare centre is directly around the corner from the Maroubra Synagogue on Anzac Parade.

Minns said he and Albanese had spoken to Rabbi Goldstein from the synagogue, who was “heartbroken as a result of this attack … but he knows the community in Maroubra and the eastern suburbs — whether they’re of the Jewish faith or not — are with him, and stand united against this appalling attack”.

Addressing reporters alongside Minns, Albanese said: “This attack is the latest in a series of antisemitic hate crimes.” The Australian Muslim Advocacy Network and the Australian National Imam Council have both condemned the attack.

According to a police statement: “Fire and Rescue NSW attended and found the ground floor (of the childcare centre) well alight.”

“The blaze was extinguished, however the building sustained extensive damage.

“Offensive graffiti was also located spray painted on an external wall.”

The building was unoccupied at the time of the attack and there are no reports of injuries.

Call for mandatory jail terms

Speaking at Bondi Central Synagogue on Monday, Federal Opposition leader Peter Dutton announced his plan for tougher laws to combat antisemitism. Meanwhile, Albanese urged Australian activists to remain calm during the six-week ceasefire in Gaza.

Terrorism offences would attract a minimum of six years in jail under the Coalition’s proposed laws, while those displaying terrorist organisation signs, Nazi symbols or performing a Nazi salute would face at least a year behind bars.

Greg Barns, spokesperson for the Australian Lawyers Alliance, said there was no evidence mandatory sentences deterred offenders.

“Furthermore, mandatory jail terms lead to injustice,” he said.

“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.”

With additional reporting by the Australian Associated Press