Police have identified a person of interest as they investigate the apparent firebombing of a vehicle with a Hanukkah decoration in Melbourne’s south-east early on Christmas Day.Â
Emergency services arrived in Balaclava Road, St Kilda East at about 2:50am to find the vehicle on fire.Â
The unoccupied car had a mobile billboard reading “Happy Chanukah!” mounted on its roof.
Chanukah, also spelled Hanukkah, is the name for the eight-day Jewish festival of lights.
No injuries have been reported, but the occupants of a nearby house were evacuated as a precaution.Â
The vehicle sustained significant damage in the incident overnight. (Facebook)
Rabbi Effy Block, from the Chabad of St Kilda, said he had been in contact with the affected family, which included another rabbi.
“They are OK, but the car is destroyed,” he said.
About lunchtime, police confirmed they had identified “a person who may be able to assist with their investigation”.
Detectives are trying to find that person.
Rabbi Effy Block is from the St Kilda Chabad. (ABC News: Matthew Holmes)
In a post on X — formerly known as Twitter — Premier Jacinta Allan said the community was right to fear the incident was an act of antisemitism.
“This is not what any family, street or community deserves to wake up to on Christmas Day in Australia,” she wrote.
“This little car has been driving around town spreading the Hanukkah and holiday cheer.Â
“Police are investigating this incident and treating it very seriously.”
The premier said police had increased their presence in the area this month and were working closely with community leaders to investigate the attack.
Prime minister, Jewish leaders condemn incident
While authorities are yet to confirm if the incident was religiously motivated, local Jewish leaders have condemned it, saying their safety is being jeopardised by rising antisemitism.Â
MP David Southwick, whose electorate encompasses St Kilda East, said he believed it was not a coincidence the alleged arson had occurred in the heart of Melbourne’s Jewish community.
“Carlisle Street is our Bondi, it’s across the road from one of our Jewish day schools, it’s literally 100 metres from the Bagel Belt of Melbourne,” he said.
“The car that was targeted and the family that was targeted was a Jewish family with a Jewish symbol on the vehicle.”
David Southwick says the news of the incident had been triggering for the city’s Jewish community. (ABC News)
Dvir Abramovich, from the Anti-Defamation Commission, said the apparent attack was another act of evil striking fear into the Jewish community.
“It’s a miracle no-one was killed,” he said in a statement.
“We should not confuse luck with safety.
“Things are out of control in this city and this is the new normal for Jews in Australia and what happens when hatred is allowed to spread.”
Asked about the incident at a charity Christmas event in Sydney, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the prospect of another antisemitic attack in the weeks after the Bondi Beach terror attack was “beyond comprehension”.
“What sort of evil ideology and thoughts at a time like this would motivate someone?” he asked.
“We know that there is evil present. We saw that with this father and son terrorist atrocity at Bondi Beach.
Anthony Albanese reiterated a commitment to rooting out antisemitism following news of the incident. (ABC News)
“We’ve seen it in other occurrences as well, but it is a timely reminder that overwhelmingly Australians show and are motivated by the sort of compassion, decency, kindness, generosity and togetherness that we see right here [at the event] in Ashfield this morning.”
Fifteen people were killed when two gunmen opened fire at the Chanukah by the Sea event at Bondi Beach 11 days ago.
State and federal governments have been under pressure to curb antisemitism since, with the Victorian government this week unveiling a plan to crack down on hate speech and review the state’s gun laws.
Authorities urge anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers online or on 1800 333 000.