Two Men Charged Following Anti-Semitic Attacks on Homes, Cars in Sydney

A burnt out car with anti-semitic graffiti is towed away in Dover Heights, Sydney, Australia on Jan. 17, 2025. AAP Image/Neve Brissendeni

Two men have been charged in relation to anti-Semitic attacks on homes and cars in Sydney’s eastern suburbs in January.

New South Wales (NSW) Police will allege two vehicles were set alight at Dover Heights and a further two vehicles and homes were sprayed with offensive graffiti at around 4 a.m. on Jan. 17.

One of these homes was reportedly previously owned by Co-Chief Executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry Alex Ryvchin.

Eastern suburbs detectives started the initial investigation, before it was handed over to Strike Force Pearl investigators, who are handling anti-Semitic cases in NSW.

On Feb. 19, following investigations, detectives arrested two men at a correctional facility who were then charged after appearing at the Riverstone Police Station.

“Detectives attached to Strike Force Pearl investigating after two cars were set alight on Military Road at Dover Heights in the early hours of Jan. 17, 2025, yesterday arrested and charged a man with accessory before the fact to damaging property by means of fire or explosion,” NSW Police said.

“The 37-year-old man, and a 33-year-old man, have also been charged with accessory before the fact to damaging property in company, and participate criminal group contribute criminal activity after five vehicles and two houses were vandalised with offensive graffiti on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025, on Henry Street, Queens Park.”

The men will appear in the Downing Centre Local Court on April 3. For now, they have been remanded in custody.

This comes after a 36-year-old man was charged on Feb. 19 following an anti-Semitic attack in Woollahra in December. In January, a 34-year-old women was arrested in relation to this incident.

The estimated damage bill of the incident, which included two vehicles and two buildings being allegedly graffitied, was $20,000 (US$12,600).

“About 1 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, emergency services responded to reports of a vehicle on fire in Magney Street, Woollahra. Fire and Rescue NSW extinguished the fire; however, the vehicle was destroyed,” police said.

“This vehicle and a second vehicle, along with two buildings and the footpath along Magney Street were also allegedly graffitied. Following inquiries, Strike Force Pearl detectives arrested a 34-year-old woman at a home in Liverpool about 8:30 a.m. on Monday Jan. 20, 2025. She remains before the court.

“Following further inquiries, a 36-year-old man was arrested at Parklea Correctional Centre on Tuesday Feb. 18, 2025.”

The man is also set to appear at Downing Centre Court on April 3 where he will face multiple charges in relation to the attack. He has been refused bail.

NSW Police reiterated they take hate crimes seriously. If anyone witnessed or was a victim of a hate crime, they are encouraged to report the incident through Crime Stoppers.

“It is important that the community and police continue to work together to make NSW a safer place for everyone,” NSW Police said.

The arrests come after NSW Police announced on Feb. 1 they had doubled the investigative resources attached to Strike Force Pearl.

“The extra investigators under Strike Force Pearl means those who commit anti-Semitic acts will be caught and brought before the courts. I want to reassure the Jewish community that we will do everything we can to find the perpetrators of these hateful crimes,” NSW Police Force Commissioner Karen Webb said.

Spy Director Concerned Anti-Semitic Incidents ‘Have Not yet Plateaued’

The news of the arrests comes after Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) Director-General Burgess warned anti-Semitic attacks on the Australian Jewish community “have not yet plateaued.”

Burgess, delivering his annual threat assessment 2025 speech, said Jewish Australians were increasingly being conflated with the state of Israel, bringing about a rise in hate incidents.

“The normalisation of violent protest and intimidating behaviour lowered the threshold for provocative and potentially violent acts. Narratives originally centred on ‘freeing Palestine’ expanded to include incitements to ‘kill the Jews,’” he said.

“Threats transitioned from harassment and intimidation to specific targeting of Jewish communities, places of worship and prominent figures.”

Australia’s top spy boss said that while anti-Semitism existed in Australia before the events in the Middle East, the drawn out conflict had given it oxygen and “some anti-Semites and excuse.”

“The war in the Middle East has not yet directly inspired terrorism in Australia, but it is prompting protest, exacerbating division, undermining social cohesion and elevating intolerance. This, in turn, is making acts of politically motivated violence more likely,” he said.