Overview
- The car of a rabbi bearing a Chanukka sign was set on fire in Melbourne’s St Kilda East, with police identifying a person who could assist inquiries and confirming that no injuries were reported.
- Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the attack as incomprehensible and urged renewed resolve against hatred and antisemitism.
- A 39-year-old man appeared in court near Perth after posting support for the Bondi gunmen, with police seizing six rifles, about 4,000 rounds of ammunition, Hamas and Hezbollah flags, and notebooks referencing antisemitism and bomb-making; he remains in custody until February 3.
- New South Wales passed stricter gun laws that include mandatory shooting-club membership for firearms owners, a ban on public display of terror symbols, and expanded police powers over protests, with federal steps on tougher hate-speech enforcement and a weapons buyback proposed.
- Israel’s President Isaac Herzog accepted an invitation to visit Australia as soon as possible, while authorities say the Sydney attackers were influenced by Islamic State ideology and the surviving 24-year-old suspect is in detention.