MP slams ‘animal’ who etched anti-Semitic message on his office

Police have launched an investigation after CCTV captured a man scratching an anti-Israel message on the windows at Anthony Roberts’ electorate office in Lane Cove.

Supplied screenshot of a man wanted in relation to an anti-Semitic attack on the Gladesville office of Anthony Roberts. Picture: Supplied

The office of a state Liberal MP has been vandalised, with the words “F**k Israel” scratched on the front windows.

Police have launched an investigation after a man brazenly damaged Anthony Roberts’ electorate office on Victoria Road at Gladesville last weekend.

CCTV from the incident shows the man appearing to spit on the glass, which is on Victoria Road at Gladesville, before writing the shocking anti-Semitic message. He also drew a giant “X” over a photo of His Majesty King Charles III.

A furious Mr Roberts told The Daily Telegraph the behaviour was “disgraceful” and he believed the person involved was “fuelled by venomous hatred of the Israeli Government and country.”

“Spitting on a building. What kind of animal does that? The sense of entitlement you see from some people now… and it does not help their cause,” Mr Roberts said.

“Replacing the glass will cost the taxpayer money. And it is awful that the local community, including the elderly, have had to walk past in recent days and potentially read this vitriol,” he claimed.

Mr Roberts, who has been the Member for Lane Cove since 2003, used a parliamentary speech in February to warn the Jewish community was being “targeted, vilified and ostracised” through a series of anti-Semitic acts.

“The attacks are malicious. They are a call to action with the singular purpose of striking fear… and intimidating them into the suppression and resignation of their Australian Jewish identity,” Mr Roberts claimed.

MP for Lane Cove Anthony Roberts described the person who spat on his electorate office and said “f*** Israel” as an “animal.” Picture: Richard Dobson

Police have confirmed it was investigating a report “of malicious damage on the front window” at the Gladesville electorate office on Sunday June 22.

No charges have been laid.

“The NSW Police Force takes hate crimes seriously,” the statement read.

Alex Ryvchin, from the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, described the behaviour of the man seen in the CCTV as “repugnant to our democracy” who “must be punished”.

“People who vandalise the offices of elected officials are the enemies of this,” he said.

“They resort to violence and criminal damage because they have no ideas and their identities are based on seeking emotional gratification for themselves rather than serving others.”

Originally published as MP slams ‘animal’ who etched anti-Semitic message on his office