Australian authorities are investigating potential foreign involvement in recent antisemitic crimes across the nation, amid rising tensions since the Israel-Hamas conflict began on October 7, 2023. Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw has suggested that "criminals-for-hire may be behind some incidents" and is exploring whether payments to these individuals could be made through hard-to-trace means like cryptocurrency. The inquiry also examines whether these culprits are domestic or overseas, and their underlying motivations remain under scrutiny.
The uptick in antisemitic activities has led officials to probe 15 serious allegations, with a spotlight on the possible foreign funding of local criminals to perpetrate these offenses. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has emphasized the importance of understanding the origins of these attacks, suggesting involvement of individuals who lack a personal or ideological motive and instead could be "paid actors." The recent arson attack on a childcare center near a Sydney synagogue underscores the trend of targeted incidents in areas such as Sydney and Melbourne, where 85% of Australia's Jewish population resides.
In response, police efforts have intensified, notably through Strike Force Pearl, which focuses on antisemitic crime and which has doubled its investigative team from 20 to 40 detectives. A significant breakthrough occurred with the arrest of a 33-year-old man accused of attempting to set fire to a synagogue in Sydney's Newtown, although the attack did not succeed. Meanwhile, authorities anticipate apprehending another suspect in that attack soon. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
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