Man, 36, charged with alleged anti-Semitic attack in Sydney’s east

NSW Police have given an update on their investigation into an alleged anti-Semitic attack that caused $20,000 worth of damages at Woollahra in December.

More charges have been laid following an anti-Semitic attack in Woollahra. Picture: NewsWire

Fresh charges have been laid following an alleged anti-Semitic attack that police say caused $20,000 worth of damages in Sydney’s east.

A car was torched while two buildings and a footpath were graffitied on Magney St in Woollahra on December 11, including “Kill Israiel” (sic) scrawled on the wall of a home.

Cars were torched and properties vandalised in an anti-Semitic attack in Woollahra in December. Picture: NewsWire

Tammie Farrugia, 34, is facing a string of charges relating to the alleged vandalism incident, and NSW Police confirmed on Wednesday that they have now charged another man over his alleged involvement in the damage of vehicles and properties.

A 36-year-old man was arrested at Parklea Correctional Centre on Tuesday.

He was charged with participate criminal group contribute criminal activity, destroy or damage property accessory before the fact to an offence, and take and drive conveyance without consent of owner.

He was refused bail and is set to front Downing Centre Local Court on April 3.

Detective Superintendent Darren Newman said police will allege a “male and female were involved in preparing the vehicles and jerry cans for that particular incident”, as well as obtaining the vehicles.

“We have evidence of them being carried in those vehicles at a point in time prior to those offences,” Mr Newman said at a press conference on Wednesday.

However he said the “principal offenders” for the offence remained “outstanding”.

“We are still investigating those matters,” he said.

He declined to say whether police would allege Ms Farrugia or the 36-year-old held anti-Semitic views or whether they’d participated in the incident for other reasons.

Damages were estimated to be about $20,000. Picture: NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

Emergency services responded to reports of a car fire on Magney St in Woollahra about 1am on December 11.

NSW Police have so far charged 13 people under Strike Force Pearl, which was launched following multiple alleged anti-Semitic attacks.

A group of four have been charged over fires at two Bondi businesses in October, while three men were charged after 10 vehicles and buildings were allegedly damaged deliberately in Woollahra in November.

Two men were charged following alleged graffiti and an attempt to set a Newtown building on fire, while another was charged after a Kingsford wall was allegedly damaged with offensive graffiti.

A man was also charged following the alleged intimidation of a woman in Bondi.

New hate speech laws were introduced in NSW parliament on Tuesday in a bid to crackdown on the spate of anti-Semitic attacks across the state.

The Crimes Amendment (Inciting Racial Hatred) Bill 2025 will make it a crime to “intentionally and publicly incite hatred towards another person, or group of people, on the grounds of race.”

The proposed offence would have a maximum penalty of two years in prison, fines of up to $11,000, or both for an individual, while corporations could face fines of $55,000.