Jewish family forced to evacuate after rabbi’s car firebombed in Melbourne

Car decorated with sign marking the Chanukah festival smashed and firebombed in antisemitic incident near Melbourne, less than two weeks after terrorists murdered 15 people at a Sydney Chanukah celebration.

By World Israel News Staff

A Jewish-owned car carrying a Chanukah sign was targeted in an arson attack outside of Melbourne, Australia, on Thursday, police said.

The incident occurred across the street from a Jewish school in the Melbourne suburb of St. Kilda East before dawn Thursday morning.

A car owned by a local rabbi was smashed with the windows broken before it was set on fire, apparently by a firebomb, at 2:50 a.m.

The vehicle was fitted with a sign which read “Happy Chanukah,” left over from the recent Jewish festival.

The rabbi and his family were evacuated from their home, though no injuries were reported in the firebombing.

Authorities say a person of interest has been identified in connection with the case, without providing details.

“Moorabbin crime investigation unit detectives are investigating a suspicious fire in St. Kilda East on Thursday, 25 December,” a police spokesperson said.

“Detectives have identified a person who may be able to assist with their investigation. Inquiries into the incident are ongoing.”

The attack comes a week and a half after two terrorist gunmen shot and murdered 15 people during a Chanukah celebration at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, and left dozens more wounded.

“This is a continuation of the daily fear the Jewish community has had to live in for the past two years, and even more so after Bondi,” said Naomi Levin, CEO of the Jewish Community Council of Victoria.

Rabbi Effy Block, a member of the Chabad movement and a friend of the owner of the car, said the incident was “very traumatizing.”

“It’s traumatizing. They are coming off the Bondi massacre. They saw fire outside – they ran out of the house. Mentally, it was very traumatizing for them.”

“It was an antisemitic attack because they saw the menorah.”

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese vowed federal assistance in probing the firebombing.

“Australia’s Jewish community is in mourning after the Bondi terrorist attack,” Albanese wrote on X. “The firebombing of a car in Melbourne is another terrible act of suspected antisemitism. Federal authorities stand ready to assist. There is no place in Australia for this kind of hatred and it has to stop.”