A car displaying a “Happy Chanukah” sign was firebombed early Thursday in Melbourne’s St. Kilda East neighborhood, an area with a large Jewish population, Australian authorities said.
The vehicle was parked in the driveway of a home and was set ablaze from the inside. No one was injured, though occupants of the house were evacuated as a precaution. Victoria Police described the incident as a “suspicious fire” and said investigators are actively searching for a person who may assist with the case.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese strongly condemned the attack, calling it “evil” and linking it to a troubling surge in antisemitic incidents across Australia. The arson comes just days after a deadly shooting at a Jewish Hanukkah event in Sydney’s Bondi Beach area that killed 15 people and injured dozens more.
Images broadcast on national television showed the burned-out interior of the vehicle, which had clearly been marked with a festive Jewish message. Jewish community leaders said the incident has deepened fear and anxiety among local residents during what should be a joyful holiday period.
Australian authorities have pledged increased security measures and continued investigations into recent antisemitic crimes, including online extremism linked to violence.
“This attack was meant to intimidate,” community leaders said, “but it will not silence or drive us into hiding.”
