A man accused of attempting to set fire to a synagogue has been allegedly linked to two other anti-Semitic attacks, including the targeting of a prominent Jewish leader’s former home.
The revelations come as the nation’s spy chief warned the n Jewish community is being increasingly conflated with the Israeli state amid ‘festering’ tension over the war in Gaza.
Leon Sofilas is the first person charged over the January 17 attack on a house in Dover Heights, in Sydney’s east, that was previously owned by Executive Council of n Jewry co-leader Alex Ryvchin.
Sofilas was charged on Wednesday with being an accessory before the fact to the incident, in which cars were set on fire and defaced with anti-Jewish slurs and the house was splashed with red paint.
The 37-year-old was also accused of being involved in an anti-Semitic graffiti attack on a series of vehicles and houses in nearby Queens Park on January 11.
Sofilas was already in custody after being charged with a graffiti and attempted arson attack on Newtown synagogue, in Sydney’s inner west, on the same day.
His co-accused in that case, Adam Moule, 33, has also been charged over the Queens Park incident, with the duo facing identical charges of being an accessory before the fact to the property damage and participating in a criminal group.
Both men will remain in custody before a scheduled appearance in Downing Centre Local Court on April 3.
‘s spy chief Mike Burgess earlier said he was worried about a recent spate of hate crimes across the nation.
‘Festering’ anti-Semitism within the community had been brought to the surface after Hamas’s October 7 terror attacks on Israel and the latter’s deadly retaliation in Gaza.
‘Jewish ns were also increasingly conflated with the state of Israel, leading to an increase in anti-Semitic incidents,’ the n Security Intelligence Organisation director-general said.
‘Narratives originally centered on “freeing Palestine” expanded to include incitements to “kill the Jews”…Threats transitioned from harassment and intimidation to specific targeting of Jewish communities, places of worship and prominent figures.’
The most serious incident was the discovery on Sydney’s outskirts of a caravan containing industrial explosives and details of Jewish sites.
Political leaders including NSW Premier Chris Minns described the find as indicative of a terrorist act, although police said they were also looking into the possibility the explosives were being used as a criminal ploy.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who has been under pressure to reveal when he was briefed on the January find, on Wednesday said recent media reporting suggested the incident was ‘not what it seems’.
But on Thursday Mr Minns stood by his comments, denying they were premature.
‘Regardless of the motive, regardless of what’s finally revealed as a result of the police investigation, it can’t be minimised that this was a serious, serious threat to NSW,’ he said.
NSW raced new hate-speech laws through the lower house of parliament on Wednesday despite criticism the changes would criminalise free speech.
The state government had introduced legislation to make it a crime to intentionally and publicly incite hatred towards another person, or group of people, on the grounds of race.
The changes have also been criticised for only focusing on race and not providing the same protection for LGBTQI or religious communities.