Overview
- A vehicle bearing a Hanukkah message was set alight about 2:50 a.m. on Dec. 25 in St Kilda East, prompting the evacuation of a rabbi’s family, with no injuries reported.
- Victoria Police classified the blaze as a suspicious fire, established a crime scene, and appealed for CCTV and dashcam footage through Crime Stoppers.
- Investigators say extensive surveillance footage has yielded a person who may assist inquiries, and active efforts are under way to locate the individual.
- Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the attack as beyond comprehension and said federal authorities stand ready to assist, while Jewish security groups increased local patrols.
- The incident follows the Dec. 14 Bondi Beach Hanukkah massacre that killed 15 people, which police say was ISIS-inspired, fueling hate‑crime and security reforms and renewed calls for a national inquiry or royal commission.