An Australian rabbi's car adorned with a festive "Happy Chanukah" sign has been firebombed in a suspected antisemitic attack just a week after the terror attack on Bondi Beach.
The vehicle was engulfed in flames during the early hours of Thursday morning in Melbourne's St Kilda East suburb.
Emergency crews responded to the scene on Balaclava Road at approximately 2.50am, discovering a grey Mazda that had sustained severe fire damage while parked in a residential driveway.
The blaze destroyed the vehicle's interior and shattered several windows.
Victoria Police have classified the incident as a suspicious fire and launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attack.
The vehicle was unoccupied when the fire occurred, and authorities subsequently removed it from the scene after establishing a crime scene for forensic examination.
The rabbi, who has chosen not to be publicly identified, confirmed his spouse and children were inside their home as the attack unfolded.
His wife discovered the fire after the car's alarm activated.
The car, which featured a 'Happy Chanukah' sign, was firebombed on Christmas night
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Looking outside, she witnessed flames consuming the car and immediately took action to evacuate their children from the property.
The family escaped without suffering any physical injuries, according to Victoria Police.
A police spokesman later confirmed no members of the community sustained harm during the incident.
Writing on X, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said there was "no place for this kind of hatred".
He said: "Australia’s Jewish community is in mourning after the Bondi terrorist attack.
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Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said this was 'another terrible act of suspected antisemitism'
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"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."
Detectives working on the case have pinpointed an individual they believe could provide valuable assistance with their inquiries.
Authorities are actively conducting searches and pursuing leads regarding this person's current location.
The family escaped without suffering any injuries, Victoria Police said
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Authorities have issued an appeal for members of the public to come forward with any relevant information.
Police are particularly keen to obtain dashcam recordings or CCTV footage that may have captured activity in the vicinity during the early hours of Thursday morning, urging witnesses to contact Crime Stoppers.
Rabbi Effy Block, who leads the Chabad of St Kilda congregation in the local area, described the incident as unmistakably antisemitic in nature.
Speaking to AFP, he expressed relief that the attack had not resulted in casualties, stating: "Thank God no people were harmed.
"But this is a continuing escalation, where we see these events happening again and again.
"My Jewish community in St Kilda and Melbourne do not feel safe in their own homes and country."
The firebombing comes a little over a week following a terror attack at a Jewish Hanukkah celebration on Bondi Beach, which left 15 people dead and dozens injured.
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