Man charged over alleged anti-Semitic vandalism and car fires in Sydney’s east

A 25-year-old man who was arrested on the Central Coast has been charged over his alleged involvement in a series of anti-Semitic attacks and arson incidents in Dover Heights earlier this year.

A man has been charged over alleged anti-Semitic graffiti and vehicles being damaged in Dover Heights in Sydney’s east earlier this year. Picture: Supplied

A Central Coast man has been charged over his alleged role in a series of anti-Semitic vandalism attacks and vehicle fires in Sydney’s eastern suburbs earlier this year.

Bailey Coombes, 25, of Umina Beach has been charged with participating in a criminal group to contribute to criminal activity, and destroying or damaging property in company using fire or explosives.

Emergency services were called to Military Rd in Dover Heights shortly before 3.45am on January 17 following reports of anti-Semitic graffiti sprayed on two vehicles, paint splashed on two houses and a car and three vehicles set alight.

Police say two of the graffitied vehicles were also set on fire, with the flames spreading to a third unrelated vehicle. A fourth vehicle was damaged by a large amount of paint.

According to court documents, a silver Honda Accord motor vehicle was sprayed with the words ‘F--- Jews’.

Executive Council of Australian Jewry Co-CEO Alex Ryvchin with his wife Vicki outside their old home in Dover Heights that was targeted in another anti-Semitic attack with cars torched, hate messages sprayed on them and the house was also splashed with red paint. Picture: Jonathan Ng

One of the torched cars and the home that had red paint thrown over it. Picture: Supplied

The Dover Heights home formerly belonged to Jewish community leader Alex Ryvchin, who had sold the house three years earlier.

Ryvchin, told reporters at the time he couldn’t say with “absolute Certainty” if it was a targeted attack on his family.

Following the incident, Officers established a crime scene and launched an investigation under Strike Force Pearl.

Following extensive inquiries, detectives arrested Coombes at a home on West St at Umina Beach just after 6.30am on Monday.

Coombes was taken to Gosford police station and charged.

Police will allege Coombes was not physically present at the time of the attacks but assisted in planning the incident.

Officers inspecting the damage the following morning. Picture: John Appleyard

He was refused bail to appear in Gosford Local Court later that day, where he was granted conditional bail to appear at the Downing Centre Local Court on May 29.

Two other men, Leon Emmanuel Sofilus and Nicholas James Alexander, have already been charged over the same matter and remain before the courts.

Sofilus is facing a number of charges including destroy/damage property in company, destroying property in company using fire, knowingly display by public act Nazi symbol without excuse and possessing an unregistered firearm pistol.

Alexander is also facing a number of charges which include knowingly direct activities of criminal group and being an accessory before fact to an offence - Destroy/damage property in company.

Both men will also face court again on May 29.

Investigations under Strike Force Pearl are continuing.

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Originally published as Man charged over alleged anti-Semitic vandalism and car fires in Sydney’s east