Police release CCTV of suspected arson attack on Maroubra childcare centre as anti-Semitic graffiti found

Fresh CCTV has been released of the moment a childcare centre in Sydney’s east was engulfed in flames in an anti-Semitic attack. Police are still hunting those responsible.

Fresh CCTV has been released showing the shocking moment a childcare centre in Sydney’s east exploded into flames, as police continue to investigate a suspected arson attack that left the building extensively damaged and anti-Semitic graffiti scrawled across its exterior.

Just before 1am on Tuesday, January 21, emergency services were called to the Only About Children childcare centre on Storey St in Maroubra, following reports the building was on fire.

The centre was significantly damaged by the fire. Picture: Alex Ryvchin/Twitter

Fire crews arrived to find the ground floor of the centre well alight. The blaze was quickly extinguished, but not before the centre sustained significant structural damage.

No one was inside the building at the time and no injuries were reported.

Anti-Semitic slurs were sprayed onto an external wall of the facility. Picture: Alex Ryvchin/Twitter

Graffiti containing offensive, anti-Semitic messages was found spray-painted on one of the centre’s outer walls, prompting an investigation by officers from Eastern Beaches Police Area Command under Strike Force Pearl.

The childcare centre has no known connection to the Jewish community, but it sits just a few doors down from a synagogue with its own childcare facilities.

Only About Children CEO Anna Learmonth said she was “shocked and horrified” by the incident.

Police have released CCTV vision as investigations continue into a suspicious fire and graffiti at an eastern suburbs childcare centre earlier this year. Picture: Police

Detectives have now released CCTV footage, along with an image of a vehicle and two men they believe may be able to assist with their inquiries.

Both men are described as being of medium build, around 180cm tall, with facial hair and were wearing dark-coloured hooded jumpers at the time of the incident.

The vehicle is believed to be a black Audi sedan which was captured on CCTV travelling eastbound on the M5 from Fairford Road before the fire. It was later seen exiting the motorway at Kingsgrove Road following the incident. The car was subsequently located in Kingsgrove and has been seized by police for forensic examination.

Police cordoned off Storey St the morning after the incident. Picture: NewsWire/ Julian Andrews

Anyone with information, including dashcam, is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

The NSW Police Force takes hate crimes seriously and encourages anyone who is the victim of a hate crime of witnesses a hate crime to report the matter to police through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or through Triple Zero (000) in an emergency.

It is important that the community and police continue to work together to make NSW a safer place for everyone.

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Originally published as Police release CCTV of suspected arson attack on Maroubra childcare centre as anti-Semitic graffiti found