In a concerning development, Australian authorities are currently investigating the possibility of foreign actors potentially paying criminals to carry out antisemitic attacks within the country. The Australian Federal Police Commissioner, Reece Kershaw, revealed this troubling information during a meeting with state police chiefs on Wednesday in response to a surge in antisemitic crimes in Australia following the escalation of the conflict between Israel and Hamas on October 7, 2023.
“We believe criminals-for-hire may be orchestrating some of these incidents,” Kershaw disclosed during a press briefing held in Canberra, the nation’s capital. He emphasized that ongoing investigations are focused on uncovering the financiers behind these criminal acts, their whereabouts, whether they are domestic or international, and the underlying motives driving such despicable behavior.
The Commissioner refrained from fielding questions from the press, underscoring the sensitivity and complexity of the ongoing probe. Kershaw further highlighted that law enforcement is actively pursuing 15 significant allegations of antisemitic crimes and exploring the potentially nefarious links between overseas entities and local criminal elements in Australia.
The investigation is delving into the intriguing possibility of transactions being carried out via cryptocurrency, which poses unique challenges in tracing and identifying individuals involved in funding these hateful activities. Moreover, authorities are looking into the potential role of online radicalization in influencing young individuals to perpetrate antisemitic acts.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese declined to speculate on the identities of those behind the financial backing of antisemitic crimes, emphasizing the need to understand the root causes of such attacks. Albanese hinted at a disturbing trend wherein individuals driven purely by financial incentives, rather than ideological motivations, may be carrying out these reprehensible acts on behalf of undisclosed paymasters.
The recent arson and graffiti attack on a childcare center near a synagogue in Sydney marked the latest in a series of targeted assaults on Jewish institutions and properties in major Australian cities such as Sydney and Melbourne, where the majority of the Jewish community resides. These attacks have included fires, vandalism, and other forms of violence, with one individual sustaining burn injuries in a fire deliberately set at a Melbourne synagogue in December.
Following the recent spate of attacks, the New South Wales Police have bolstered their efforts to combat antisemitic crimes by doubling the number of detectives assigned to Strike Force Pearl, a specialized unit dedicated to investigating such incidents. The intensified focus has already yielded results, with the arrest of a 33-year-old individual named Adam Edward Moule on charges related to an attempted arson attack on a synagogue in the inner Sydney suburb of Newtown on January 11.
Moule, who allegedly used a liquid accelerant to ignite the building, was apprehended by Strike Force Pearl detectives and is currently awaiting trial after his initial court appearance was adjourned to allow for legal representation. Authorities have indicated that an additional suspect linked to the same incident is expected to be taken into custody soon, further underscoring the collaborative efforts to bring those responsible for antisemitic crimes to justice.
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