Prominent Jewish leader and suspected target of the antisemitic attack in Sydney, Alex Ryvchin, has told his community not to be afraid and to not “allow the cowards who did this to win”, while calling on other Australians to “speak up”.

Speaking outside his former home, the site of the attack early on Friday morning, Ryvchin said his fear is that the attacks will soon transcend vandalism and hate speech, and become physical attacks on people.

“This attack meets a modern standard of terrorism,” he said. “There is evil at work in this country, and we have to recognise that.

“There are a large number of people who feel like they can do this sort of thing … You go online and see thousands and thousands more people cheerleading this and calling it a false-flag attack.

“My concern is … what’s happening to our country?” he said.

He said he had spoken with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese about the attack who was “shaken and on a personal level deeply hurt”.