Federal Police Suspect Foreign Actors Paying Local Criminals to Carry out Antisemitic Attacks

A supplied screen grab taken from a news broadcast obtained on Jan. 21, 2025, of damage at the scene of a fire at a childcare centre in Maroubra, Sydney, Australia. AAP Image/Supplied by Nine News

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) are investigating the possibility of foreign actors paying local criminals in cryptocurrency to perpetrate an ongoing antisemitic attack spree in the country.

Numerous incidents have been reported over the last few months stemming from the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel.

The incidents include offensive graffitiing, and arson attacks on cars and buildings in Jewish communities in Sydney and Melbourne. This is despite a ceasefire in motion between Israel and Hamas.

In the most recent incident on Jan. 21, a childcare centre located near a synagogue in eastern Sydney was graffitied, and set alight leaving it heavily damaged. While late last year, the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne was firebombed also leaving it heavily damaged.

AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw said more than 100 incidents of antisemitic crimes were currently under the microscope.

Damage is seen following a firebombing at the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne, Australia on Dec. 9, 2024. AAP Image/Yumi Rosenbaum

“All lines of inquiry are open to the investigations–including what anonymising technology, such as dedicated encrypted communication devices, have been used to commit these crimes,” he said.

“We are looking into whether overseas actors or individuals have paid local criminals in Australia to carry out some of these crimes in our suburbs.

“We are looking at if—or how—they have been paid, for example in cryptocurrency, which can take longer to identify.”

Commissioner Kershaw said police were also investigating whether any young people involved in the crimes had been radicalised online.

“Regardless, it all points to the same motivation: demonising and intimidating the Jewish community,” he said.

“There is no doubt there is an escalation of antisemitism in Australia.

“We know this is changing the movements and behaviour of a community that is in fear.”

Commissioner Kershaw said there were differences between intelligence and evidence, and the AFP was currently finding more of the latter, with more charges expected to be announced soon. Over 100 individuals have been either arrested or charged so far across Victoria and New South Wales.

Kershaw said the AFP was in regular contact with trusted international partners and a meeting was planned for Jan. 22 with the dedicated state police commissioners across the country.

The AFP has established Special Operation Avalite to target high-harm antisemitism, while the AFP-led Operation Ardvarna is targeting the display of prohibited symbols–both operations have made arrests and more are expected soon.

Special Operation Avalite has received 166 reports of crime since it was established in December last year. Of those reports, many are duplicates, some are already under investigation by state counterparts, and some don’t meet the threshold of a crime.

National Database Coming

A national emergency cabinet meeting was held on the same evening as the childcare centre attack.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and state leaders gathered to discuss the rising surge in antisemitic hate crimes across the nation.

A key outcome of the meeting, which was held online, will be the establishment of a national database to track antisemitic crime and behaviours.

“The Commonwealth will work with states and territories on the development of the database,” Albanese said in a statement.

“The purpose of one national reporting system is to better inform and coordinate responses to antisemitic incidents.”