MELBOURNE, Australia (AP)
Australian detectives are investigating whether foreign actors are paying criminals to commit antisemitic attacks in the country, according to police.
Australia Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw met with state police chiefs to discuss an increase in antisemitic crime in Australia since the war between Israel and Hamas began on October 7, 2023.
“We believe criminals-for-hire may be behind some incidents,” Kershaw said. “So part of our inquiries include: Who is paying those criminals, where those people are, whether they are in Australia or offshore, and what their motivation is.”
Kershaw did not take questions from reporters, but told federal and state government leaders on Tuesday that detectives were investigating 15 serious allegations of antisemitic crime. They are looking into whether overseas actors have paid local criminals in Australia to carry out some of these crimes. They are also investigating whether young people were involved in antisemitism and if they had been radicalized online and encouraged to commit antisemitic acts.
The latest attack in a spate of targeted attacks on Jews in Australia’s largest cities, Sydney and Melbourne, occurred on Tuesday. A childcare center near a Sydney synagogue was set on fire after an arson attack. Last month, a Melbourne synagogue was targeted in a similar incident.
Detectives have arrested 33-year-old Adam Edward Moule, who is accused of attempting to burn down a synagogue in inner Sydney. He will face court charges on Thursday.
Police are also investigating whether the individuals behind the attacks are being motivated by online radicalization.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese declined to comment on who might be paying for antisemitic crime in Australia, but urged that people understand the motivations behind the attacks are being carried out by “paid actors” who may not have a particular ideology but are being paid.
