A man has been charged over his role in two antisemitic attacks in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, including the firebombing of cars outside the former home of Jewish leader Alex Ryvchin.
In the early hours of January 17, two cars were firebombed outside Ryvchin’s former Dover Heights home and daubed with antisemitic slurs, and the house was splashed with red paint.
Residents woke to the sound of the cars “exploding”. The current occupants of the home are not believed to be Jewish.
After an investigation by NSW Police Strike Force Pearl detectives, a man was arrested at a prison on Wednesday and taken to Riverstone police station, where he was charged with accessory before the fact to damaging property by means of fire or explosion.
Police allege the man, aged 37, was also involved in another antisemitic attack a week prior when five cars and two homes were vandalised with offensive graffiti in Henry Street, Queens Park, on January 11.
The men will appear at Downing Centre Local Court on April 3.
Alex Ryvchin visited his former home hours after the attack.Credit: James Brickwood
Just hours after his former home was attacked, a defiant Ryvchin – who is the co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry – said there was “an evil at work in this country”.
“When you have people in our society who are so consumed by wickedness and hatred that they would set fire to things, set fire to suburban streets, and risk the lives of everyone who lives here simply because they disagree with certain views or opinions, it shows that we’re in a very dangerous state,” he said.
Read the full article here
