Premier Chris Minns slams ‘animals’ behind Maroubra daycare attack

Chris Minns has condemned the ‘animals’ responsible for the latest ‘atrocious’ anti-Semitic attack in Sydney’s eastern suburbs which saw a childcare centre firebombed.

The Only About Children childcare centre in Maroubra was firebombed last night.

NSW Premier Chris Minns has slammed the “bastards” responsible for an “atrocious” anti-Semitic attack in Sydney’s eastern suburbs which saw a childcare centre firebombed, as Anthony Albanese says he will hold a national cabinet to quash the escalating hatred of Australian Jews.

In a joint press conference held hours after the Only About Children childcare centre was set on fire and branded with an anti-Semitic slur, Mr Minns announced he would enhance the police response to anti-Semitic strikes in Sydney, adding “more detectives, more resources and more people chasing down these violent criminals”.

A wall at the property was vandalised with an anti-Semitic slur. Picture: Nine News

“It is completely disgusting, and these bastards will be rounded up by NSW Police,” he said.

The centre, located just metres away from a prominent synagogue, was set alight about 1am on Tuesday, with emergency services rushing to the scene to extinguish the flames.

Extensive damage occurred to the ground floor of the building, which was unoccupied at the time. No one has reported injuries.

Mr Minns rejected suggestions that his government has lost control of the anti-Semitism crisis gripping the state, saying many individuals have been charged in relation to the crimes.

His comments come just days after two vehicles were set on fire a few suburbs away from Maroubra in Dover Heights, and the former home of Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin was doused in paint.

Mr Minns slammed the "animals" responsible for the strikes, and vowed they would be brought to justice.

"It's important today that we're able to detail in specifics where arrests have taken place in New South Wales," he said. "The individuals that have been charged by New South Wales Police face very serious prison time if they're convicted in the courts. They will be charged by New South Wales Police."

He said he could not promise an end to the violence, but said it "breaks your heart" that the attacks continue.

Damage to the property. Picture: Channel 7

Both Mr Minns and the Prime Minister visited the scene of the crime on Tuesday morning, with Mr Albanese saying he was there “first hand” to survey the damage.

At the press conference, he said he had spoken with Australia’s envoy against anti-Semitism Jillian Segal about the “despicable and horrifying crime” on Tuesday morning, as well as AFP chief Reece Kershaw.

Ms Segal earlier this month called on Mr Albanese to instate a national cabinet to fight the growing number of anti-Semitic incidents. Her calls have been echoed by Jewish leaders and the Coalition.

He said he will this afternoon “have a discussion” with state leaders.

21-01-2024 - The Only About Children childcare centre in Maroubra that was firebombed last night in what was an anti-semitic attack.

“We’ll have a discussion this afternoon. We met last week - the Premier of Victoria and the Acting Premier of NSW,” he said.

“Obviously, like in other places at this time of the year, people have been on leave. I know that the Premier came back, here in NSW. So we’ll have that discussion this afternoon.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and NSW Premier Chris Minns have condemned the attack. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

Neighbours of the childcare centre, which is not a Jewish school, said that its exterior walls were once adorned with “bring them home posters”.

The posters showed images of hostages kidnapped by Hamas during its October 7, 2023 attacks. It is understood they were not put up or endorsed by the centre but community members.

Jewish resident Ben Klein, who lived in the neighbourhood surrounding Maroubra for more than a decade, said the attack was “completely uncivil”.

“There is a completely lack of respect for Australian values, social cohesion and civil society,” he said. “It’s disgusting… a childcare centre, how low can they go?”

Mr Klein said that while the Jewish community was galvanised and closer than ever, the scenes on October 9, 2023 at the Sydney Opera House had been a prelude, and anti-Israel activists had “taken over the street and dominated the narrative”.

“The government has tried to placate both sides and managed to alienate both (Jewish and Muslim) communities,” he said. “(The government) needs to come out strongly for what society values.”

Speaking outside the charred childcare centre, Simone Abel, the Executive Council of Australian Jewry’s legal head, said the attack was “no doubt” a case of mistaken identity with the nearby synagogue, saying it should be a “wake-up call”.

She welcomed Mr Albanese’s indication that a national cabinet would be called to address the crisis.

“This is the real face of anti-Semitism,” she said, pointing to how fighting in Gaza had stopped but how Australia’s anti-Semitic attacks had continued. “This has been brewing for years.”

Maroubra Synagogue’s former rabbi Yossi Friedman said the attack was an “assault” on the Jewish community and the Australian way of life.

“It’s domestic terrorism, it’s not isolated attacks — they’re using fire, putting words to their hate,” he said.

Mr Ryvchin on Tuesday said an attack on a childcare centre “requires a depth of savagery that is difficult to imagine”.

The centre was firebombed and scrawled with anti-Semitic graffiti. Picture: ABC

“Today, families will be having conversations about whether it’s safe to send their children to the places where they should be safest,” he said.

“Places of worship, homes and now preschools have all been targeted by domestic terrorists.

“Anti-Semitism consumes everything. It is the disease that is destroying our country. We need national cabinet to deal with what is a national emergency.”

Only About Children chief-executive officer Ms Learmonth said she and her staff were “shocked and horrified” with the attack, adding that their thoughts were with the “Maroubra community”.

Staff were notified overnight of the attack and soon after emailed parents.

Ms Learnmonth said the attack struck at the entire community.

“We’ll work closely with our families,” Ms Learmonth said. “Our priority at the moment is working with authorities and partners in the sector to ensure our children are (looked after).”

Only About Children representative Anna Learmonth speaking with Premier Chris Minns.

Ms Learmonth said that Mr Minns was “shocked”, and that he and the prime minister had relayed their concern and condemnation of the attack.

The centre has a “harmony” mural on one of its exterior-facing walls, that “celebrates diversity”.

“We want to make sure that everyone is welcome,” Ms Learmonth said.

“We will work with the authorities to ensure children are protected… that’s our primary focus.”

Federal member for Kingsford Smith, Matt Thistlethwaite, said the attack “did not represent” the vast majority of his community, and that he was working with police, local synagogue and nearby Jewish schools to ensure they were “as safe as possible”.

“To our friends in the Jewish community, I’m deeply sorry that you’ve had to endure an attack like this once again,” the Labor member said.

Storey St resident Mara — who declined to give her last name to ensure her house “wasn’t firebombed” - called the prime minister “spineless”, and said he was not welcome in her neighbourhood.

“This (attack) is terrorism,” Mara, who is not Jewish, said. “Terrorism isn’t just the actual (firebombing) but when everybody in a neighbourhood becomes scared and afraid, that’s what terrorism is.”

A western Sydney woman was yesterday charged over her alleged involvement in an anti-Semitic attack in Woollahra in January in which three buildings were graffitied and a stolen car was set alight.

The 34-year-old was arrested at her home in Liverpool, with police charging her over her involvement in which the words “kill Israiel” (sic) and “death 2 Israiel” (sic) were scrawled across multiple buildings and a vehicle was destroyed by fire.

Additional reporting: Joanna Panagopoulos