NSW Police investigating ‘suspicious item’ left on car believed to be flying Palestine flag in Botany

The Bomb Squad was called to a Sydney home after an explosive device was left on the hood of a car flying the Palestinian flag in Sydney’s south.

The item appearing to look like a bomb taped to the car.

The NSW Police Bomb Squad was called to a Sydney home after an explosive device was found on the hood of a car flying the Palestinian flag – as the car’s owner labelled it a “hate crime”.

Police were called to a street in Botany after reports of the suspicious item about 2pm on Friday.

Officers from the Rescue and Bomb Squad attended the scene and later deemed the item safe.

A crime scene was established by South Sydney Police Area Command detectives, inquiries into the incident have begun and investigations continue.

The device used by the Rescue and Bomb Squad.

The car’s owner, who wishes to not be named for safety reasons, said after walking into his front yard, he found what he thought looked like a bomb on the hood of his car.

A note taped to the item read: “ENOUGH! TAKE DOWN FLAG! ONE CHANCE!!!!”.

He told this publication he believed it was an “attempt to intimidate and suppress” him from flying the Palestinian flag on his car and at his home.

“It’s a hate crime, and it’s an act of very literal terrorism,” he said.

“It was dangerous enough for [police] to send the bomb squad to check it was safe enough for them to touch.”

He said while it didn’t turn out to be a bomb, “it was still an open vessel of petrol” sitting on his car.

However, despite what he believed was intimidation, he is adamant about continuing to fly the flag and said he was “proud to be standing on the right side of history”.

“If that means taking a tiny smidgen of what people in the occupied territories deal with everyday, then I’ll put my hand up for that,” he said.

The ‘suspicious item’ left on the car.

The incident has been condemned by both sides of politics, with Opposition leader Peter Dutton condemning the incident and said he hoped police would be able to hold the person responsible to account.

“Our country doesn’t want to see problems here from any other part of the world,” he said.

“We welcome migrants and we welcome people into our community, the greatest country in the world and we don’t want the troubles from the Middle East or anywhere else.”

Mr Dutton said people should be able to safely live in Australia regardless of their religion or background.

“Threats against people of any particular religious belief, any background is not acceptable.”

In response to the incident, Immigration and Multicultural Affairs Minister Andrew Giles said there was “no place” in Australia for “antisemitism, Islamophobia or any form of hate speech”.

“We must recognise that in our multicultural society, social cohesion is a vital national asset which can’t be neglected, much less undermined,” he said.

“What we say matters.

“We all have a role to play in maintaining social cohesion, and in ensuring that conflict overseas doesn’t come here.”

Australia Palestine Advocacy Network president Nasser Mashni said it was “another alarming sign of the anti-Palestinian racism ... that is rife in our communities”.

Police have urged anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers.