Australian authorities are investigating a suspected hate crime after a car adorned with a 'Happy Chanukah' sign was deliberately set on fire in Melbourne. This alarming incident comes just days after a deadly terrorist attack at a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney, raising serious concerns about the safety of the Jewish community in the country.
Details of the Melbourne Car Fire
Victoria Police confirmed they are treating the blaze as a "suspicious fire." The empty vehicle was parked in the driveway of a home in the St Kilda East suburb when it was set alight in the early hours of Thursday. Images broadcast by the ABC showed the car severely scorched by the flames. Police stated that detectives have identified a person of interest who may assist the investigation and are actively working to locate them.
Context: Escalation After Bondi Beach Tragedy
This act of vandalism and intimidation follows closely on the heels of a far more violent tragedy. On December 14, a mass shooting at a Hanukkah festival on Sydney's Bondi Beach killed 15 people and injured several others. The gunmen opened fire on a crowd of hundreds gathered to celebrate the Jewish holiday. In response to that attack, Australian authorities have begun the process of stiffening laws and penalties for hate crimes.
Community Reaction and Fear
Local Jewish leaders have unequivocally condemned the car fire as an antisemitic act. Rabbi Effy Block of the Chabad of St Kilda expressed relief that no one was physically harmed but highlighted the growing fear within his community. "Thank God no people were harmed," he told AFP. However, he added, "But this is a continuing escalation, where we see these events happening again and again. My Jewish community in St Kilda and Melbourne do not feel safe in their own homes and country." His statement underscores the profound anxiety following these consecutive attacks during a period of religious observance.
The back-to-back incidents—the deadly Bondi shooting and the targeted arson in Melbourne—have sent shockwaves through Australia, prompting a national conversation about religious intolerance, security, and the need for robust legal measures to protect vulnerable communities.
