<\/p>\n
\nEmergency services were able to extinguish the fire and evacuate a nearby house on Thursday morning.
\nPhoto: ABC \/ Supplied\n<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Emergency services arrived in Balaclava Road, St Kilda East about 2.50am to find the vehicle on fire.<\/p>\n
The unoccupied car had a mobile billboard reading “Happy Chanukah!” mounted on its roof.<\/p>\n
Chanukah, also spelled Hanukkah, is the name for the eight-day Jewish festival of lights.<\/p>\n
No injuries have been reported, but the occupants of a nearby house were evacuated as a precaution.<\/p>\n
Rabbi Effy Block, from the Chabad of St Kilda, said he had been in contact with the affected family, which included another rabbi.<\/p>\n
“They are OK but the car is destroyed,” he said.<\/p>\n
About lunchtime, police confirmed they had identified “a person who may be able to assist with their investigation”.<\/p>\n
Detectives are trying to find that person.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\nThe vehicle sustained significant damage in the incident overnight.
\nPhoto: ABC \/ Supplied\n<\/p>\n
Prime minister, Jewish leaders condemn incident<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Dvir Abramovich, from the Anti-Defamation Commission, said the apparent attack was another act of evil striking fear in the Jewish community.<\/p>\n
“It’s a miracle no-one was killed,” he said in a statement.<\/p>\n
“We should not confuse luck with safety.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
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”.<\/p>\n
“What sort of evil ideology and thoughts at a time like this would motivate someone?” he asked.<\/p>\n
“We know that there is evil present. We saw that with this father and son terrorist atrocity at Bondi Beach.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n