Australia: Muslim man identified as the ringleader behind a series of attacks on Jewish schools and the residence of a Jewish community leader

Image: Jihad Watch

Authorities in Australia announced a major development in the country’s fight against rising antisemitic violence. On Wednesday, police in New South Wales revealed that they had formally charged the alleged ringleader behind a disturbing wave of antisemitic attacks that rattled Sydney’s Jewish community earlier this year. The suspect, identified as 27-year-old Tarek Zahabe, is accused of planning and executing multiple targeted assaults, including vandalism at Jewish schools and even an attack on the private residence of a prominent Jewish leader.

The charges mark a significant breakthrough for investigators who, for months, had struggled to make headway in solving the spate of incidents directed at Jewish institutions and individuals. These crimes—ranging from arson to defacement with antisemitic graffiti—sent shockwaves through Sydney’s Jewish population and drew national attention.

The development comes against a wider backdrop of concern about foreign interference in antisemitic activity within Australia. Just last month, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese disclosed intelligence assessments indicating that Iran had orchestrated at least two antisemitic arson attacks in 2024. In addition, police recently apprehended suspects linked to the December attack on Melbourne’s Adass Israel Synagogue, underscoring the seriousness of the threat.

Despite those revelations, investigators stressed that there was no evidence connecting Zahabe to Iran or any foreign network. Instead, police believe he acted on his own initiative. According to authorities, Zahabe was arrested in July following an intensive probe led by Strike Force Pearl, a special task force established earlier this year to address the alarming rise in antisemitic incidents in Sydney.

Detectives allege that Zahabe was directly responsible for two key attacks in January. On January 21, a child-care center adjacent to the Maroubra Synagogue was set on fire and defaced with antisemitic graffiti, sparking outrage and fear in the local community. Nine days later, on January 30, a Jewish school in Maroubra was vandalized with offensive antisemitic slurs. Police say Zahabe orchestrated both incidents, which fit into a broader pattern of intimidation targeting Jewish Australians.

This latest arrest signals progress in the authorities’ efforts to dismantle the networks and individuals behind such hate-driven crimes, even as the Jewish community remains on edge and calls for greater protection continue to grow.

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)