‘Heartbreaking’: Anti-Jewish Protestors Set Childcare Centre on Fire

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and NSW Premier Chris Minns attended the scene, while the opposition also strongly condemned the attack

A supplied screen grab taken from a news broadcast obtained on Jan. 21, 2025, of damage at the scene of a fire at a childcare centre in Maroubra, Sydney, Australia. AAP Image/Supplied by Nine News

A childcare centre in Maroubra in Sydney’s east was a scene of chaos after being set alight amid an ongoing antisemitism spree in Australia’s major cities.

The building was allegedly set on fire and defaced with the words: “[Expletive] the Jews,” although no-one was inside at the time.

The attack is the latest antisemitic incident in Sydney and Melbourne despite an ongoing ceasefire deal in the Middle East, prompting calls for harsher penalties against the perpetrators.

New South Wales (NSW) Police confirmed an investigation was underway.

“Just before 1 a.m., emergency services were called to a childcare centre on Storey Street, Maroubra, after reports of a fire,” NSW Police said in a statement.

“Fire and Rescue NSW attended and found the ground floor well alight. The blaze was extinguished; however, the building sustained extensive damage.”

The childcare centre is located a short walk from the Maroubra Synagogue.

Anna Learmouth, CEO of the Only About Children childcare centre chain, says the company has been in damage control.

“We are shocked and horrified to see the damage that has been occurred at our service, and obviously our immediate thoughts are with the community,” she told ABC TV.

“We have been focused on ensuring our team, our families and the children are safe and aware of what is going on, and we have been in communication with them this morning.”

Premier Describes the Incident as ‘Heartbreaking’

NSW Police said they took hate crimes seriously and encouraged victims or witnesses to report the matter via Crime Stoppers.

Both NSW Labor Premier Chris Minns and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese were quick to arrive at the scene and condemned the attack.

A national cabinet meeting will be held on the afternoon of Jan. 21 in response to the incident.

Premier Minns described the scene as “heartbreaking.”

“It breaks your heart that we have animals in our city that are prepared to burn down a childcare centre to make this point. We are seeing a wave of antisemitic attacks in our community. It’s deeply distressing,” he told reporters.

Minns said the rise in antisemitic attacks in NSW was a major concern for the government.

“What I can promise is that the resources of the NSW Police, the [NSW] government, and the Commonwealth government are directed at this today and tomorrow and, as long as it takes to catch the people who are responsible for it.”

State Opposition Leader Mark Speakman described the incident as a “vile, cowardly, and apparently antisemitic attack.”

“Targeting children is beyond reprehensible. Those responsible must face the full force of the law and harsh penalties,” he said on X.

Latest in Long Series of Antisemitic Attacks

The attack is the latest in a series of antisemitic incidents across Sydney and Melbourne stemming from the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attack on Israel.

Incidents include offensive graffiti, arson attacks on cars or buildings, and firebombing of the Adass Israel Synagogue.

Executive Council of Australian Jewry Alex Ryvchin, whose former home was targeted in a separate attack last week, called for national cabinet to deal with the matter.

“To plan and execute the firebombing of a childcare centre requires a depth of savagery that is difficult to imagine. 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 on X.

“Places of worship, homes and now pre-schools have all been targeted by domestic terrorists. Antisemitism consumes everything. It is the disease that is destroying our country. We need national cabinet to deal with what is a national emergency.”

PM Promises Full Force of the Law

Prime Minister Albanese said his government would support NSW Police in hunting down the offenders, and ensure Operation Avalite is activated.

“The only objective which will be achieved by this crime is the fulfilment of these people being caught, charged, and facing the full force of the law,” he said.

“This is a place for children and families, and it should never have been denigrated by this despicable and horrifying crime.”

Meanwhile, federal Shadow Home Affairs Minister James Paterson drew attention to a letter from Opposition Leader Peter Dutton to the prime minister calling for earlier action on the matter.

“Anthony Albanese has been dragged kicking and screaming to finally do so 14 months later after it has got completely out of control,” he said on X.