Australia reports anti-Israel graffiti, burnt car in Sydney

A forensics police officer takes photographs of the wall where anti-Israel graffiti has been removed in the Sydney suburb of Woollahra on December 11, 2024. Two suspects daubed anti-Israel graffiti and torched a car in a Sydney suburb on December 11, police said, sparking "outrage" from Australia's government days after a Melbourne synagogue was set ablaze. (Photo by DAVID GRAY / AFP)

SYDNEY (AFP) Two suspects daubed anti-Israel graffiti and torched a car in a Sydney suburb on Wednesday, police said, days after a Melbourne synagogue was set ablaze.

Police said they were seeking two males believed to be in their late teens who were “disguised” and seen running from the scene in the early hours.

A forensics police officer takes photographs of the wall where anti-Israel graffiti has been removed in the Sydney suburb of Woollahra on December 11, 2024. PHOTO: AFP

The suspects burned the car they had been driving, and spread graffiti over the burned car, another vehicle, two buildings and a footpath, New South Wales state police said.

Images on local media showed the misspelled phrase “Kill Israiel” sprayed in black on a white wall in the eastern suburb of Woollahra, which has a long-established Jewish community.

A contractor painted over the graffiti soon afterwards.

Albanese had toured the charred remains of the Melbourne synagogue the day before.

Counter-terror police are hunting for three suspects believed responsible for setting fire to the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne on Friday.

The war in Gaza has sparked protests from supporters of Israel and Palestinians in cities around Australia, as in much of the world.