A childcare centre in the Sydney suburb of Maroubra has been graffitied with anti-Semitic words and set alight overnight.
NSW Police said the building in Storey Street, Maroubra was set alight just before 1am on Tuesday, 21 January.
The building was unoccupied when firefighters attended the scene and police say the building was extensively damaged before the blaze was extinguished.
Spray-painted words on the childcare centre’s fence said “F*** the Jews”.
“Eastern Beaches Police Area Command established a crime scene and an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident has commenced,” says NSW Police.
The childcare centre is not far from the Maroubra Synagogue on Anzac Parade.
NSW Premier Chris Minns describes the vandalism as “disgusting” and says the “vicious hate crime” is now the subject of a major police investigation.
“The scene of a torched out childcare centre on the same block as a synagogue is completely heartbreaking,” says Minns.
“These bastards will be rounded up by NSW Police.”
Anyone with information, CCTV or dashcam footage has been asked to contact police.
PM calls recent hate crimes “unacceptable”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited the childcare centre and says the attack was the latest in a series of unacceptable anti-Semitic hate crimes.
“The only objective which will be achieved by this crime is the fulfilment of these people being caught, charged and facing the full force of the law,” says the Prime Minister.
“This is a place for children and families, and it should never have been denigrated by this despicable and horrifying crime.”