Western Sydney woman Tammie Farrugia arrested over anti-Semitic attack looking for “plastic jerry cans”

A woman accused of being part of an anti-Semitic firebombing attack in Sydney’s eastern suburbs allegedly posted on social media seeking plastic jerry cans the day before the attack.

Tammie Farrugia, 34, charged over the Woollahra anti-Jewish graffiti and firebombing on December 11. Picture: Facebook

A western Sydney woman accused of being part of an anti-Semitic attack in Sydney’s eastern suburbs where three buildings were graffitied and a stolen car was set alight allegedly posted on social media seeking jerry cans prior to the attack.

Tammie Farrugia, 34, had her Liverpool home raided by police on Monday morning for her alleged involvement in the December 11 attack in which a the words “kill Israiel” (sic) and “death 2 Israiel” (sic) were scrawled across multiple buildings.

A vehicle was destroyed by fire and another graffitied, causing a damage bill of approximately $20,000.

Social media posts made on December 10 – the day before the attack – by the mother of five will be relied upon in court, where she allegedly asked if anyone had jerry cans she could use.

“Anyone got any plastic Jerry cans plz let me know thanks in advance,” she allegedly posted in a local Facebook group.

The Facebook post of Tammie Farrugia allegedly asking for spare jerry cans. Picture: Facebook

After police had left the crime scene a large can of vegetable cooking oil with what smelled like petrol inside was left at the crime scene on Magney Street, around 2m from where the burnt-out car was located.

Two unmarked police cars arrived around 10 minutes after a call to Bondi Police Station was made about the abandoned can by a journalist. A plain-clothes officer took photographs of the can, which was about a third-full of the substance.

After police leave the scene a 20L tin containing what smells like petrol sits next to where the car was burning. Police return to inspect it after being called by the media. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Ms Farrugia following her arrest. Picture: NSW Police

Ms Farrugia has since been charged with participating in a criminal group/contributing to criminal activity, being an accessory before the fact to destroy or damage property, and a further charge of travelling inside a stolen vehicle.

In court on Tuesday her lawyer requested a two-week adjournment and she was remanded in custody to return to court on February 5.

According to a social media profile in her name, Ms Farrugia wrote that she had been “raided” on Christmas Eve and her partner had been “locked up” and that “our phones got seized”.

Exclusive CCTV footage obtained by The Australian on the day of the attack showed a dramatic explosion on a backstreet of the prominent Jewish suburb, before a grainy figure runs away from the blaze. It was the second attack within a month in the area.

At the time of the attack, NSW Premier Chris Minns said there was no point in “sugar-coating or downplaying” the rising level of anti-­Semitic attacks in Australia.

“This was specifically designed to, in my view, incite hate and intimidate the Jewish community in Sydney,” he said. “So that’s the first thing we need to do – be clear and unambiguous about the meaning of this crime.”

A car is set alight and anti-Semitic graffiti sprayed on homes in Magney St Woollhara. A cleaner paints over the graffiti. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb described the attack as “disgusting” and said the police had been given extra resources to hold the offenders responsible.

“A full police response is under way and it commenced immediately with local regional and terrorism police being called out last night,” Commissioner Webb said.

Anthony Albanese “unequivocally” condemned the incident, and said he would receive a briefing from an Australian Federal Police group tasked with investigating acts of anti-Semitism

Mr Farrugia’s arrest comes amid an escalating number of anti-Semitic attacks in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. Last week, the former Dover Heights home of Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin was doused in paint and two cars were set alight on the street.

In late November, two men were arrested and charged following another attack in Woollahra, in which “f..k Israel” was smeared across nine cars, as well as apartment buildings and Matt Moran’s Chiswick restaurant.

With NCA Newswire