Australia’s federal police have launched an investigation into whether “overseas actors or individuals” are financing criminal activities aimed at promoting antisemitic incidents within the country.
The probe follows a series of antisemitic crimes in recent months, including a recent attack on a childcare center in Sydney, which was set on fire and vandalized with anti-Jewish graffiti. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
In response to the surge in such incidents, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese convened an urgent cabinet meeting. Officials decided to establish a national database to monitor and document antisemitic activities across Australia.
Since its creation in December, a federal police taskforce dedicated to investigating these crimes has received over 166 reports of antisemitic incidents. Authorities are working to determine the scale and origins of these coordinated acts of hate.
“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,” Australian Federal Police (AFP) Commissioner Reece Kershaw said, adding that it was possible that cryptocurrency was involved.
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw highlighted the challenges of tracing digital currency transactions, which may be linked to funding antisemitic crimes.
The commissioner noted that authorities are also examining whether young individuals are involved in these incidents and if they have been radicalized through online platforms. However, Kershaw emphasized, “intelligence is not the same as evidence,” while hinting that more charges are likely to follow.
Last week, the federal taskforce, Special Operation Avalite, achieved its first major breakthrough by charging a Sydney man with making death threats against a Jewish organization.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned Tuesday’s attack on a childcare center in Maroubra, an eastern suburb of Sydney, describing it as “cowardly” and a clear “hate crime.” The center was set on fire and defaced with anti-Jewish graffiti in an act Albanese called both “disgusting” and deeply disturbing.
“This was an attack targeted at the Jewish community. And it is a crime that concerns us all because it is also an attack on the nation and society we have built together,” he wrote on social media.
The Jewish Council of Australia, which was set up last year in opposition to antisemitism, said that it “strongly condemns” this and all such incidents.
“These acts underscore the urgent need for cooperation, education and community dialogue to combat prejudice and promote understanding,” it said in a statement.
Recent antisemitic incidents across Australia, particularly in Sydney, have included acts of graffiti, arson, and vandalism targeting buildings such as synagogues.
In response to the surge in hate crimes, New South Wales has established a dedicated state-level taskforce, resulting in charges being filed against 36 individuals for antisemitic-related offenses.
Victoria, a neighboring state, has also taken action, with authorities making 70 arrests linked to similar crimes. One of the most alarming incidents in Victoria involved a synagogue being set on fire last month, further highlighting the urgent need to address this wave of targeted attacks.
State and federal efforts continue to ramp up as investigations broaden to uncover the roots of these hate crimes.
