Police in Sydney have charged two men they believe to be responsible for a string of antisemitic attacks in the city throughout January, including allegedly setting a childcare centre on fire.
During the spate of attacks, which left the local Jewish community shaken, a swastika was graffitied on a synagogue in the city, while red paint was thrown over the former home of Alex Ryvchin, a Jewish author and co-CEO of the Australian Executive Council of Australian Jewry. Four cars were set alight outside the property and on one of the burned-out vehicles, the words "f*** Jews" were graffitied.
The childcare centre, which is popular among local Jews, was vandalised before being set on fire – an act Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called vile. No one was injured. A Jewish school was then vandalised with antisemitic graffiti just over a week later
New South Wales Police confirmed today that counterterrorism detectives had charged two men in June and July in connection with the acts.
Police allege Tarek Zahabe, 27, co-ordinated the wave of attacks, enlisting the help of his alleged accomplice Kye Pickering, 26, to target the synagogue. Zahabe directed and assisted Pickering, they said.
Zanabe was charged with participating in a criminal group activity and knowingly/recklessly directing a criminal group to assist crime.
Pickering was charged with knowingly displaying a Nazi symbol without excuse, destroying/damaging property and participating in a criminal group contributing criminal activity.
Both men will appear in court in October.
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